Social Service and Health Departments (Co-operation) (Hansard, 7 April 1998)

§ Mr. Win Griffiths

Evidence available to the Welsh Office suggests that following Local Government re-organisation good progress is being made in establishing effective joint working between Social Service Departments and Health Authorities.

I attach the greatest importance to good joint working and, indeed, discussed this with representatives of the Welsh Local Government Association on 16 March. My officials are working closely with colleagues in other Health Departments on initiatives to tackle this UK-wide issue and are also taking forward action with authorities in Wales.

The Welsh Office is funding a project through the North Wales Health Authority to identify good practice in collaborative working with social services departments. The report of this work will be made available for wider dissemination. In October 1997 I announced an additional £9.548 million to tackle the pressures of emergency hospital admissions and to reduce delays in discharging patients. The management of these additional resources has meant that health authorities and social services have needed to work more closely together to address local priorities and improve joint planning and co-ordination of service delivery.

In the light of the Audit Commission report "Coming of Age" the Welsh Office has recently issued advice to health and local authorities, seeking better collaboration at a local level to improve the quality and range of services provided for vulnerable and older people. This will be followed up by meetings with joint Health and Local Authority teams on the progress being made in implementing the report's recommendations.

I expect authorities to work towards effective joint planning arrangements which will include improvement in multi-disciplinary assessment procedures and the development of health and social care services to enable vulnerable people to optimise their independence through timely recuperation and rehabilitation opportunities.