Care Plan Costs

HC Deb 09 January 2003 vol 397 cc323-4W

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned over the past 10 years on the economic costs of complying with the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 in(a) performing assessments and (b) developing care plans for patients being discharged from hospital. [85706]

Jacqui Smith

While the Department has commissioned a range of research into the implementation of the changes introduced by the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, none of this research looked specifically at the costs of undertaking assessments and developing care plans for patients being discharged from hospital. In general, however, the research confirms the cost-effectiveness of well-organised assessment and care management for vulnerable older people and other adults in hospital or the community.