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The barriers to third sector delivery of health and social care are clear and inaction on removing them can no longer be justified, a long-awaited report on the issue, launched by care services minister Ivan Lewis, concluded today.

The Department of Health’s Third Sector Commissioning Task Force made familiar calls for charitable providers to recover full costs, be given longer-term contracts and face a reduced regulatory burden from both inspectorates and commissioners.

However, it vowed to report again next April on whether its conclusions, which the DH has agreed to consider, have been heeded.

The task force said the government’s reform programme for health and social care provided a “window of opportunity” for third sector providers.

However, it said commissioners had a limited understanding of the sector.

No excuses. Embrace partnership now. Step towards change! from www.dh.gov.uk