§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress towards the introduction of intermediate care. [65015]
§ Jacqui SmithIntermediate care has made rapid progress over the last two years—there is very good progress towards the targets set in the NHS Plan and there are many examples of good practice around the country. However, it is still a relatively new service and there is more work to be done to ensure that it becomes firmly established and meets its full potential.
The Department's recent review of intermediate care—Intermediate Care: Moving Forward—is available on the website and a copy has been placed in the Library. The full results of the Department's survey of intermediate care provision conducted last summer are also in the Library.