Community care. Working together for better health

The purpose of community care is to promote privacy, dignity and independence and provide resources for living. It is a philosophy not a place, writes Stephen Watkins. In this extract from the Medical Practitioners' Union evidence to the house of commons health committee enquiry on community care, he sets out a new blueprint for the organisation and funding of a seamless health and social service based on joint, locality-based commissioning and practice-based case management.