The theme of this collection of essays is partnerships between health and local government. Such partnerships are not new. Nor is discussion of the merits (or otherwise) of collaboration between the two sectors. The history of collaboration between these two sectors of the public services has been chequered to say the least; indeed, the boundary between health and social care has been described as a 'Berlin Wall'. However, New Labour's ascension to power in 1997 has rekindled an avid interest in this issue. The government's emphasis on partnerships and collaboration has been projected as a key element of its 'Third Way' philosophy. Partnership working in particular has been viewed as the most appropriate means of addressing endemic, obdurate social ills, such as social exclusion, poor health, poverty, and low educational standards.

Stephanie Snape, Pat Taylor

Chapter 1 Part nerships between Health and Local Government: An Introduction, STEPHANIE SNAPE, PAT TAYLOR; Chapter 2 Joint Planning across the Health/Social Services Boundary since 1946, PAUL BRIDGEN; Chapter 3 Conceptual Issues in Inter-Agency Collaboration, WENDY RANADE, BOB HUDSON; Chapter 4 Joint Working: The Health Service Agenda, CAROLINE GLENDINNING, ANNA COLEMAN; Chapter 5 Health and Local Government Part nerships: The Local Government Policy Context, STEPHANIE SNAPE; Chapter 6 The Health Action Zone Initiative: Lessons from Plymouth, MICHAEL COLE; Chapter 7 Overcoming the Desire for Misunderstanding through Dialogue, PAUL HOGGETT; Chapter 8 Leading and Managing at the Boundary: Perspectives Created by Joined Up Working, MIKE BROUSSINE; Chapter 9 Part nerships between Health and Local Authorities: Concluding Remarks, PAT TAYLOR;