First care trusts by 2002

Local authorities, health authorities, primary care trusts and
NHS trusts have until the end of July to express an interest in
piloting the new voluntary care trusts included in the Health and
Social Care Act 2001.

A letter and briefing paper inviting local partners who wish to
set up “demonstration sites” or pilots to come forward was sent to
the eight NHS regional offices and four social care regional
offices for dissemination earlier this month.

Pilot care trusts, which will be NHS bodies, are likely to be up
and running from April 2002. Their experiences will provide a
“practical foil” to the development of regulations and
guidance.

The briefing paper also identified housing and education
services as potential functions which could be delegated from the
local authority to care trusts in addition to social services.