§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to monitor the implementation of the national service framework for older people; what proportion of primary care trusts (PCTs) have implemented it; by what date PCTs should have implemented it; and what sanctions will be applied to PCTs that fail to do so. [146576]
§ Dr. LadymanThe main service development milestones in the national service framework (NSF) for older people: specialist stroke services, joined-up mental health services for older people and more intermediate care services by April 2004, and the development of integratedfalls services by April 2005, are being monitored centrally as these are specific targets in "Improvement, Expansion and Reform": the priorities and planning framework for 2003 to 2006. The Commission for Health Audit and Inspection, with the Audit Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection will be conducting a study in 2005 to determine how well the NSF is being implemented.
Overall responsibility for ensuring that the NSF is implemented rests with individual strategic health authorities.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the national service framework for older people. [146577]
§ Dr. LadymanGood progress is being made with the implementation of the national service framework (NSF). The majority of organisations met the early milestones putting in place the structures and people needed for implementation.
714WThe three key NSF milestones regarding the development of specialist stroke services, joined-up mental health services for older people and integrated falls services, and capacity assumptions for intermediate care services are included in the priorities and planning framework for 2003 to 2006 as "must do" targets. Most strategic health authorities are planning to meet these milestones. An on-going dialogue is taking place with the few who are not.