§ 33. Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he proposes to improve community health provision. [119087]
§ Mr. HuttonWe have already introduced primary care groups and primary care trusts to provide more integrated services and to ensure local decisions about community healthcare services are led by local clinicians. We have introduced new flexibilities through the Health Act 1999 to enable better partnership working between the National Health Service and local councils. And we are developing a new tier of intermediate care services to build effective bridges between home and hospital.