§ Baroness Barkerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they have to monitor whether or not local authorities charge for services that are designated as intermediate care services, when it is the department's view that they should be free at the point of use. [HL358]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)The Department of Health circularIntermediate Care (HSC 2001:001/LAC (2001–01) published on 19 January 2001 makes it clear that intermediate care should he free at the point of use. This circular is statutory guidance issued under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970. We expect local authorities to comply with statutory guidance, and therefore have no special arrangements to monitor whether or not local authorities are charging for intermediate care services. A copy of the circular is available in the Library.
§ Baroness Barkerasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many intermediate care beds they estimate will be required over the next 10 years in England; and upon what basis they have made that estimate. [HL551]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe National Health Service Plan sets a target of 5,000 additional intermediate care beds by 2003–04. Targets beyond that date have not yet been set.
Estimates of future requirements for intermediate care beds will form part of the whole system capacity planning now required by the NHS and councils. The need for intermediate care beds cannot be looked at in isolation, but will depend upon the availability of other services (for example, acute hospital beds, primary and community health services and social services). Future planning of intermediate care services will also need to take into account the outcome of the evaluation of intermediate care currently being commissioned by the Department of Health.
§ Baroness Barkerasked Her Majesty's Government:
What performance indicators will be introduced to ensure that those with dementia or functional mental illness are not discriminated against in relation to access to intermediate care. [HL552]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWhile the Department of Health has no current plans to introduce a specific performance indicator relating to those with dementia or functional mental illness and intermediate care, the222WA guidance (HSC 2001:001/LAC (2001–01) makes it clear that intermediate care services should be available to all those who might benefit from these services.