Social care is as important to the health of older people as the NHS, a conference on the older people's national service framework was told earlier this month.
Helen Robinson, the Department of Health's branch head for the older people's framework, said that the restructuring of the NHS has caused some delays in the implementation of the framework, but once the new structures are in place the momentum will be regained.
An attitude change "has to happen" to tackle age discrimination she said, although intermediate care is well ahead of interim targets. She added that there are many issues to be sorted out before it becomes a mainstream service.
A trustee of the Relatives and Residents Association said that there were people experiencing problems leaving intermediate care because there were not enough therapists.
The conference, held in London, was organised by the Centre for Policy on Ageing.
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