Evaluation of the Integration of Health and Social Services in Somerset: Part 2 ‐ Lessons for Other Localities

In April 1999, Somerset Health Authority and Somerset County Council launched the first fully integrated adult mental health service in England, made up of a joint commissioning board and an integrated services provider. Between January 1999 and June 2001, the authors evaluated the implementation of the integration by investigating the impact of this initiative on service users, their carers, staff members at the new trust, and senior managers and members from health and social services. In this, the second part of the presentation of the results from the evaluation, the main themes relevant to the pursuance of integration in other localities will be drawn out and discussed in light of the literature currently available.