§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the intermediate care joint investment plans have been agreed as set out on page 172 of the National Service Framework for Older People milestones. [34024]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 7 February 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member 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.
In the light of Shifting the Balance of Power and a government wide drive to reduce levels of bureaucracy, a new approach to planning in the national health service NHS) is being developed.
Chief executives of the new strategic health authorities (StHAs) will be accountable for delivery of national priorities as part of three-year franchise agreements with the Department. Franchise agreements will be underpinned by an annual delivery agreement (ADA) that outlines the actions and investments required to deliver on the commitments outlined in the Planning and Priorities Framework (2002–03), of which the development of intermediate care services is a key deliverable. Taken together, the components of StHA franchise agreements, including the ADA, will form the key instrument of accountability between the NHS and the Department.
In the light of these changes and the commitment by Departmental boards to reduce the health and social care planning burden, the NHS will no longer be required to produce either older people's or intermediate care joint investment plans. Any local planning of intermediate care services for 2002–03 that has already taken place will feed in to the new planning arrangements.
This does not mean that the NHS will cease to plan or invest jointly-it will. Crucially though the quality and effectiveness of that planning will now become the responsibility of the StHAs, who will be responsible for ensuring that adequate mechanisms are set in place at a PCT and trust level to ensure effective joint investment and planning.