§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanism will be used to monitor progress against the milestones contained in Standard Five of the National Service Framework for Older People, for every general hospital treating stroke patients to have a plan to introduce a specialised stroke service by April 2002. [59351]
§ Jacqui SmithThe monitoring of this April milestone through the new health and social care directorates will be part of the service and financial framework return (SaFFR) process. This milestone will be monitored in the first quarter of the SaFFR which should be available at the end of July 2002.
Informal reports from regional offices indicate that the milestone should he met in all by a few cases. Any hospital identified by the strategic health authority in the monitoring process, as not having plans will be offered appropriate advice.