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Health secretary John Reid thanked directors of social services for their work but failed to give assurances about major challenges facing the sector, writes Sally Gillen from Newcastle.

Disappointment greeted his speech to directors at the annual National Social Services conference in Newcastle, which included a passing remark about Director of Adult Services role.

Hinting at the future relationship between adult social service and health, he said those who took on the role would be expected to build partnerships with other agencies to provide a seamless integrated service for service users.

But delegates were frustrated by the lack of specific detail offered on the role and the delay of the green paper on adult services and white paper on public health.

Speaking afterwards, chair of the community wellbeing board, which has been set up to look at the green paper, David Rodgers said: "I am not reassured by the lack of specifics about current issues. We want to see the green paper published as soon as possible."

Reid also acknowledged that social care had fewer resources than the NHS. He said: "I know that many of you will believe that we have put more and more demanding challenges on you and that other areas such as the NHS have been given resources that outstrip yours, But I ask you to recognise that even with this there has been an unprecedented growth in social care funding since 1997 of 36 per cent in real terms."