title: Ask the experts.
abstract: Although UK healthcare spending is now close to the European average( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 2008 ), older people still receive inadequate services ( Healthcare Commission 2008 ). The recession is a time of great peril and great opportunity: there is the risk of savage funding cuts and falling quality; but there is also the opportunity to integrate our fragmented healthcare system and harness the skills of nurses to drive up quality.
authors.affiliation: Ealing Primary Care Trust.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nazarko
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth University.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Board
authors.affiliation: Intermediate care, NHS Bournemouth and Poole Community Health Services.
authors.forename: Dawne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garrett