Little interest in care trusts

Only two local authorities expressed an interest in becoming
care trust pilots at a London social care group meeting last
week.

The figure provides an early indication of local authorities’
level of interest in taking forward proposals in the Health and
Social Care Act 2001.

A letter was sent from the Department of Health to each of the
four social care regions last month – as well as the eight NHS
regions – inviting bids for demonstration sites or pilots by the
end of July (News, page 3, 28 June).

David Behan, junior vice president of the Association of
Directors of Social Services, suggested that at least five pilot
sites would be needed in order to represent all potential council
and health partnerships, and to focus on services for mental health
service users and older people – but not necessarily children.