§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the practical implementation of the proposals for the functioning of the new care trusts. [144192]
§ Mr. HuttonThe introduction of care trusts signals an important step towards the closer integration of health and social care services. Their focus will be to meet the needs of local communities by arranging and providing care for users across a broad spectrum of care, from acute hospital to community health and social care at home.
Care trusts will be responsible for all the care needs of a particular client group, such as older people, this will enable the seamless delivery of care for patients and the most effective use of resources for partnerships.
446WWe will be working closely with local government organisations and primary care professionals to develop the detailed arrangements, which will support the introduction of care trusts, once the necessary legislation has been approved by Parliament.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health against what standards local councils will judge the care trusts which commission care for older people. [144194]
§ Mr. HuttonProposals for monitoring the integrated delivery of health and social services by care trusts and currently being developed. The work will build on the performance assessment frameworks of both health and social care, and will monitor delivery of the standards which will be set out in the National Service Framework for People.
The performance management system for care trusts will build upon the principles of best value, integrating existing clinical governance and performance assessment frameworks, and will ensure that existing responsibilities are properly fulfilled.
The care trusts will be required to co-operate fully with the local authority in discharging this duty.