§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent developments have taken place in the Greater London area in intermediate healthcare services. [63591]
§ Mr. HuttonThe thirty-two primary care trusts in London along with their social services departments and partner agencies are responsible for planning and commissioning intermediate care services. The local implementation teams for the older peoples national service framework are overseeing this process. Each care community in London has an intermediate care co-ordinator and most have a wide range of Intermediate care services, both beds and community places which they are working to ensure are co-ordinated to meet their local needs. A London wide network for these co-ordinators facilitates the sharing of good practise across London.
Twelve capital projects in London have between them been allocated £10 million as part of the £66 million capital funding for intermediate care in 2002–3 and 2003–4. These schemes will be developed over the next 444W two years and will by April 2004 have significantly increased the number of intermediate care beds available across London.