§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 July 1997,Official Report, column 586, if he will implement the recommendations contained in the report, "No Accounting for Health", from the Alzheimer's Disease Society. [49570]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Alzheimer's Disease Society plays a valuable role in providing support, information and advice and commissioning research into Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia. The Society's report, "No Accounting for Health", published in 1997, made a number of thoughtful recommendations on the development of policy.
Although not directly in response to "No Accounting for Health" we are undertaking a number of initiatives which will address the Society's concerns. For example, the National Health Service Executive's priorities and planning guidance for 1998–99 includes the development of a range of recovery and rehabilitation services for older people and the development of a national framework for multi-disciplinary assessment of older people in acute and community health care settings. In addition, the significant role carers play is being recognised and taken into account by the Government in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's recent announcement of the carer's strategy.
The Royal Commission on Long-Term Care for the Elderly, announced on 4 December 1997, Official Report, columns 489–99, is examining the short and long term options for a sustainable system of funding of long-term care for elderly people in the United Kingdom, both in their own homes and in other settings. It is expected to recommend by the end of the year how, and in what circumstances, the cost of such care should be apportioned between public funds and individuals.