§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems of evaluation are in place to monitor the quality of provision of(a) pre-admission and (b) rehabilitation services of intermediate care. [52278]
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§ Jacqui SmithArrangements for monitoring and evaluating local intermediate care services were set out in the Department of Health circular "Intermediate Care" (health service circular 2001:01: local authority circular (2001)/01), published on 19 January 2001. A copy is in the Library.
Since the circular was published, research into intermediate care has been commissioned, and there is a growing body of evidence from local evaluations. The Commission for Health Improvement, Social Services Inspectorate, and the National Care Standards Commission (and their successor bodies, announced in "Delivering the NHS Plan") all have a role in evaluating the quality of intermediate care services in various settings. The Department collects data on rates of hospital admission, re-admission and delayed transfers of care, which help to measure the impact of intermediate care services.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much additional funding has been invested in intermediate care services since 28 March 2000. [52689]
§ Jacqui SmithThe NHS Plan announced extra investment of £900 million annually by 2003–04 for intermediate care and related services to promote independence. Of this, around £255 million was earmarked specifically for national health service investment in intermediate care. This is in addition to £150 million made available recurrently from 2000–01. Full details are in the intermediate care circular health service circular 2001–01:LAC (2001)1 published in January last year, a copy of which is in the Library.
Additionally, a one-off allocation of £63 million was announced in August 2000 to help expand capacity for the 2000–01 winter. This included investment in intermediate and transitional care to tackle delayed discharges and initiatives for recruitment and retention of key staff.