§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken towards the implementation of the Government's community care policy in the Eastern and Southern health and social services boards.
§ Mr. AncramThe Eastern and South health and social services boards, in common with the other two boards in Northern Ireland, have in place the following arrangements for the implementation of the community care reforms from April 1993
care management and assessment procedures;arrangements for purchasing community care services;procedures for financial assessment, charge collection, and payment of providers;arrangements for the dissemination, to the public and to user, carer and professional interests, of information on procedures and services; andprocedures for dialogue with independent sector providers.In addition, since 1991, community care complaints procedures have been functional in each board area, and registration and inspection units have been set up to monitor the standards and operation of all residential and nursing homes.
All these arrangements are being refined and developed in the light of experience of the operation of the new community care procedures.