What plans does the Welsh Government have for pooling health and social care service budgets in Wales?
Regional pooled budgets are a requirement under the Partnership Arrangements (Wales) Regulations 2015.
We recently set out proposals for new arrangements for pooled budgets as part our Rebalancing Care and Support Programme. We propose retaining the current requirement for pooled budgets in relation to the joint commissioning care home placements for older people, but the partnership bodies will have greater flexibility in deciding at which level budgets should be pooled (regional, sub-regional, local or cluster level). In addition, the revised Part 9 Statutory Guidance on Partnership Arrangements will specify that the partnership bodies should consider joint commissioning and pooled funds in relation to a wider range of services than just care homes for older people.