§ Sir David PriceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether under the terms of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, elderly people will be(a) given the opportunity to contribute to and comment on any care plan drawn up for them, (b) entitled to the help of an advocate if so desired to comment and contribute to any care plan drawn up for them and (c) offered a choice of services within the care plan.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIn both the policy guidance and the forthcoming practice guidance on care management and assessment, strong emphasis is given to enabling118W potential users of services of all ages to participate in the assessment process and to contribute to their care plan, with any points of difference between the assessor and the user being recorded. Local authorities will also be encouraged in the practice guidance to encourage advocacy support where people are unable to speak for themselves and have no other friend or relative to speak on their behalf.
The promotion of choice and independence underlies the whole community care reform programme. The assessment and care management process will encourage choice, with assessors providing information on services available across both the statutory and independent sectors.