HL Deb 14 September 2001 vol 627 cc8-9WA
Baroness Barker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of patients leaving intermediate care will go to (i) their own home, (ii) sheltered or very sheltered accommodation, (iii) a care home, or (iv) an acute, medical or long stay geriatric ward. [HL460]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Data have not been collected on where people who have left intermediate care have gone.

The national research currently being commissioned by the Department of Health to evaluate intermediate care will provide information on this in due course.

Baroness Barker

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans, reports or studies are currently being undertaken concerning the provision of intermediate care following the National Health Service Plan; and who is undertaking them. [HL550]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The National Service Framework for Older People, published on 27 March, made it clear that the National Health Service and councils should, by January 2002, agree three-year implementation plans for intermediate care, as part of their local action plans and joint investment plans. These plans will be reviewed by NHS regional offices and social care regions to ensure that they deliver the requirements set out in the NHS Plan and the National Service Framework for Older People. The NHS was asked to submit specific data on investment and activity for intermediate care and community equipment as part of 2001–02 service and financial frameworks (SaFFs). This data is currently being validated. Local action plans for older people's services, submitted as part of the SaFF process, indicated how the 2001–02 'must do' targets and milestones were to be planned for, and included information on how the agreed investment and activity for intermediate care in 2001–02 will be delivered.

In addition to local evaluations, the Department of Health is currently commissioning national research which will evaluate intermediate care. The specification for this work asked researchers to focus on hospital acute admissions, lengths of stay, discharges, and re-admissions; health and social outcomes for users and carers; user and carer satisfaction; costs and savings to the NHS and other agencies; as well as the cost-effectiveness of intermediate care.