Controversial plans to reform healthcare services have the potential to help NHS and council leaders work together, a think-tank has insisted today.

A new report by the Health Foundation and the Advancing Quality Alliance said sustainability and transformation plans (STPs) could provide the ‘added impetus’ to improve coordination between health and care organisations, and stop them wasting time, money and energy.

‘If every organisation in each health and social care economy was willing to work collaboratively to design services that optimise flow it could lead to major improvements,’ said report co-author, Penny Pereira.

The report was published just 24 hours after trade union Unison warned STPs were being pushed through too quickly, and would fail without more money and engagement with staff.

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