HC Deb 12 March 2002 vol 381 cc1006-7W
Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will create a new social services user category for neurological conditions including acquired brain injury. [30838]

Jacqui Smith

I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.

It is not usual practice to instruct councils with social services responsibilities to provide services within specific categories and I do not at present intend to create a new user category for neurological conditions. However I recognise the importance of the provision of the right sort of services to meet the needs of people with acquired brain injury. The National Service Framework (NSF) for long-term conditions will set standards for the care and treatment of various long-term conditions, including for acquired brain injury. This NSF will look at services and set standards in both health and social care.