§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which primary care trusts will not provide by April 2005 a dedicated falls service for the elderly who suffer falls as outlined in the National Service Framework for Older People. [HL1728]
§ Lord WarnerThe National Service Framework for Older People requires integrated falls services to be in place locally by April 2005. The Department of Health will be monitoring formally the 2005 milestone at strategic health authority level as this is included as one of the key targets inImprovement, Expansion and Reform, the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06. All strategic health authorities except one currently report that the April 2005 target will be achieved in their area. The department has offered support to the strategic health authority that may have difficulty meeting the target across the whole of its area.
§ Lord Colwynasked Her Majesty's Government:
What methods will be used to audit the standard of services in the National Health Service with regard to osteoporosis and falls. [HL1730]
§ Lord WarnerThe Commission for Health Improvement, the Audit Commission and Social Services Inspectorate have been responsible for developing a review of progress in National Health Service and social care organisations on implementing the standards in the National Service Framework for Older People. Those aspects of Osteoporosis that relate to falls services will be included in the review that the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care and Inspection plan to undertake from July 2004 to June 2005.