Social services played vital role in emergency care

Local government, particularly social services departments,
played an important part in supporting emergency care in the year
up to March, according to a report from the department of health,
writes Katie Leason.

The report reveals that most areas have good working
relationships between the NHS and local authorities, with a shared
understanding of the need to plan and monitor demand.

The ‘Emergency Care Report 2001-2002’, which examines how the
NHS and social services managed emergency services, finds that
links with other local government functions such as housing and
environmental services are getting better, and that local
authorities are working more efficiently with primary care services
to prevent ill health.

The report also shows that delayed transfers of care continued
to drop, and by the end of March had reached the target reduction
of 1,000 since September last year.

A different report from NHS chief executive Nigel Crisp suggests
that the NHS, often in partnership with local councils, is
providing more people with care closer to home in primary care and
community settings.

It indicates that plans for older people are “well on track” to
meet 2003/04 NHS Plan targets for intermediate care services with
2,400 more intermediate care beds.

‘The Emergency Care Report 2001-2002’ available at
http://www.doh.gov.uk/capacityplanning/emergencycarereport.htm

‘Chief Executive’s Report to the NHS available March 2001-April
2002’ at http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhsreport/