§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to produce a seamless service between health authorities and social service departments in respect of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; if he will help set up a working party to(a) advise on best practice in working relationships between (i) community health councils, (ii) district health authorities and (iii) social services departments,(b) consider the benefits of introducing a unified purchaser organisation fully accountable to the public and (c) examine how the statutory remit of community health councils can be extended to enable them to monitor care in the community services provided by local authorities, and if he will make a statement. [32995]
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§ Mr. BowisLocal authority and health authority collaboration is crucial for the implementation of the community care arrangements. Local authorities have been required to reach agreements with health authorities on their respective responsibilities for long-term care and procedures for hospital discharge.
A multi-disciplinary working group looking at joint commissioning between local authorities and health authorities published two documents recently, "An introduction to joint commissioning" and "Practical guidance on joint commissioning for project leaders", copies of which are available in the Library.
We have no plans to establish a working party on collaboration between community health councils, district health authorities and social services departments.
Single integrated health authorities are being introduced from 1 April 1996. Codes of conduct and accountability were published last year and are mandatory for all NHS boards. Compliance is a condition of appointment for all board members, both executive and non-executive.
We have no plans to extend the role of CHCs to monitor mental health care in the community services provided by local authorities.
Guidance issued in January 1994, EL(94)4, acknowledged that the community care arrangements would require health and local authorities to work closely together in the planning and delivery of care services. As such, the guidance pointed out that CHCs may find it useful to discuss with local authority social services departments the role that they play in joint health and social services arrangements.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will withdraw his Department's publication in respect of guidance on NHS continuing care and issue a revised publication consistent with the principles of a comprehensive national health service free at the point of delivery and available on the basis of clinical need; and if he will make a statement. [33035]
§ Mr. BowisNo. Once implemented, this guidance should lead to a substantial improvement in the provision of a full range of continuing health care services. As well as continuing in-patient care for people who need it, this includes specialist national health service support for people to meet their medical, nursing or other clinical needs, no matter where they live.