The government has been embarrassed by the findings of its own financial watchdog, the National Audit Office. The £2 billion Better Care Fund, designed to reduce hospital admissions, is judged to be founded "on optimism rather than evidence”.

Integrated care is seen as unlikely to deliver the hoped for 3.5% reduction per year in hospital admissions, particularly as they've been increasing at the rate of 47% over the last 15 years.

The main consequence of the new initiative, it is forecast, will be to create a £700 million black hole in NHS funding.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/nhs-facing-700m-black-hole-over-failing-better-care-fund-9852400.html