The NHS long-term plan is in need of a “much wider integration of health and social care”, Surrey County Council’s new leader Tim Oliver has said.

Mr Oliver’s remarks came after the government published a 10-year plan to improve the quality of care and patient outcomes in the NHS.

It sets out how the £20.5 billion budget for the NHS announced by the Prime Minister in the summer of last year will be spent over the next 5 years.

Measures include giving patients digital access to their GP, improving maternity safety and cutting waste, including back office savings of more than £700 million across the NHS.

Mr Oliver said Surrey County Council was “really pleased to see this 10-year plan published” and said the extra funding was a “step in the right direction”.

He also praised the long-term plan’s focus on prevention, early support and mental health services.

But he also urged the government to announce its green paper on adult social care reform and proposals for sustainable funding.

In a statement published yesterday (December 7), the new leader said: “The extra funding to help health bodies and local government work together is a step in the right direction.

“But what is really needed is much wider integration of health and social care and we would urge the government to move ahead with this quickly.

“That means announcing the green paper on adult social care reform and proposals for sustainable funding, which will allow us and our partners to plan with more certainty to protect and support our most vulnerable residents.”

The new leader took over the reins of Surrey County Council in November of last year following the resignation of Councillor David Hodge.