§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many councils have reviewed their eligibility criteria for adult social care to ensure they do not discriminate on the basis of age as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People. [75702]
§ Jacqui SmithFollowing publication of theFair access to care services guidance in May 2002, councils are in the process of reviewing their eligibility criteria for adult social care. They should have completed their reviews and be ready to operate revised eligibility criteria by April 2003. By implementing the guidance councils will fulfil the first stage requirement of standard one of the national service framework for older people with respect to rooting out age discrimination.
258W
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many(a) specialist multi-disciplinary teams and (b) interfaces for care for older people throughout hospitals have been identified as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People; [75704]
(2) how many strategic and operational plans, including initial action to address identifed age discrimination, he (a) has received and (b) expects to receive as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People; [75706]
(3) how many of the intermediate care joint investment plans have been agreed, as set out in the National Service Framework for Older People milestones; [75700]
(4) which general hospitals have (a) submitted and (b) not submitted plans to introduce a specialised stroke unit by 2004 as part of the milestones set out in the National Service Framework for Older People. [75705]
§ Jacqui SmithInformation about progress against the April 2002 milestones set within the national service framework (NSF) for older people is currently being collected.
National Health Service organisations have not been asked to submit centrally their plans to tackle any age discrimination identified in their audits of age-related policies, their intermediate care investment plans, or their plans to introduce specialised stroke units. Monitoring against the NSF milestones will provide the information needed centrally about progress in these areas.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation his Department has undertaken with housing and social services to ensure that the Better Care, Higher Standards charter is working, as set out in the milestones of the National Service Framework for Older People; and what areas of the charter have been found to have shortcomings. [75703]
§ Jacqui SmithWhen the national Better Care, Higher Standards charter was published in December 1999, we undertook to carry out a review of its effectiveness after three years. We plan to complete this review by March 2003. This will include consultation with representatives of local councils.