§ Mr. Barry JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to encourage the joint commissioning by local authorities and district health authorities of generic home care for people with dementia and their carers.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThe Department sees joint commissioning between local authorities and health authority purchasers of community care services as important in further strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of community care provision. To this end, copies of the report "Joint Commissioning—A Slice Through Time", prepared for the Department, were distributed to social services departments and health authorities in March 1993. Copies of the report will be placed in the Library. In addition, the Department is currently undertaking a development project aimed at spreading good practice in joint commissioning of community services in general. This should increase authorities' expertise in joint commissioning for specific client groups.