The contribution of coterminosity to joint purchasing in health and social care.

This article examines the context within which coterminosity (the coincidence of geographical boundaries between two or more organisations) is currently being re-defined, given the development of purchasing in health and social care agencies in the British welfare system. It explores the current trends within purchasing and especially the notion of "locality" as a means of promoting "joint working" between purchasing agencies. In particular, the emergence of general practice as a focus of purchasing is explored with reference to its involvement in joint purchasing (or joint commissioning) and its interaction with the "locality". The article concludes that coterminosity has a contribution to purchasing organisations but increasingly at a local level such as the general practice or locality. This local manifestation of coterminosity may minimise the effects of fragmentation and encourage inter-agency collaboration.