§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to monitor the availability of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services following the full implementation of community care.
§ Mr. YeoGoldsmiths' college has been commissioned to undertake a special exercise to monitor the impact of community care on independent sector providers of services to alcohol and drugs misusers. Monthly progress reports will ensure that the Government have information on how these service providers will be affected by the implementation of community care.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to ensure that guidance issued by her Department to local authorities regarding assessment, admission and fast track procedures for people with drug and alcohol problems is being adhered to.
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§ Mr. YeoTwo guidance circulars have been issued to local authorities which address the needs of this client group: LAC(93)2, which encourages local authorities to pay particular attention to the needs of alcohol and drug misusers within community care, and LAC(93)7, which addresses the question of local authority responsibility for clients whose "ordinary residence" is in their area.
In addition we have asked the local authority associations to collaborate with independent sector providers in the development of good practice advice on fast track assessment and out-of-area referrals. This was circulated to local authorities on 26 March 1993.
The performance of local authorities in implementing community care is being monitored by the social services inspectorate.