§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps she is taking to monitor the implementation of Department of Health circular EL(93)14 dealing with funding arrangements for specialist palliative care needs in nursing homes;
(2) if she will list the health authorities which have formally drawn up procedures to provide nursing home-owners with information about the specialist palliative care needs of individual service users; and how the health authority will ensure that such needs are met in accordance with Department of Health circular EL(93)14;
(3) what is her assessment of the progress of implementing Department of Health circular EL(93)14 relating to funding arrangements for specialist palliative care needs in nursing homes; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. SackvilleAs circular EL(93)14 makes clear, where a person in a nursing home requires specialist palliative care, the provision of any such care which is additional to general nursing care is the responsibility of the appropriate health authority. Copies of the circular are available in the Library.
Arrangements for this need to be agreed locally between health and local authorities in order to deliver responsive care to patients. The Department does not formally monitor the detail of such agreements.
Last September's national community care monitoring exercise showed that collaboration between health and social services authorities is generally improving, although there is scope for some further clarification of local arrangements. Since then, as a precondition of local authorities' community care special transitional grant, we have again required them to submit evidence that they have reached agreement with health authorities over their respective responsibilities for continuing care.