§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) specialist multi-disciplinary teams and (b) interfaces for care for older people throughout hospitals have been identified as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People; how many strategic and operational plans, including initial action to address identified age discrimination, he (i) has received and (ii) expects to receive as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People; how many of the intermediate care joint investment plans have been agreed, as set out in the National Service Framework for Older People milestones; and which general hospitals have (A) submitted and (B) not submitted plans to introduce a specialised stroke unit by 2004 as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People. [106224]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 2 April 2003]: This information is not collected centrally. However, a monitoring exercise conducted at the end of 2002 through the strategic health authorities suggested that:
73 per cent. of hospitals have developed identified specialist multidisciplinary teams and agreed interfaces for the care of older people throughout hospitals;91 per cent. of national health service organisations, strategic and operational plans include action to address identified age discrimination; and83 per cent. of hospitals that care for people who have had a stroke will have plans in place to introduce a specialised stroke service from 2004.On the intermediate care joint investment plans, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 1037W.