New figures reveal extent of home care delivery changes

New statistics released by the department of health show that
the number of households receiving home care from the independent
sector has risen by 50 per cent in the last five years.

More than 216,000 homes were visited by workers from the
independent sector last year rising from 144,000 in 1997.

The government hopes that a further 30,000 older people will be
provided with home care services by 2006 as part of the efforts to
reduce delayed discharge problems in hospital.

The figures also show that the number of adoptions of looked
after children increased by 25 per cent in the two years up to
2002, and 80 per cent were placed for adoption within 12 months of
the ‘best interest’ decision.

Numbers of people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 has
fallen slightly from 26,600 in 2001 to 26,300 last year.

For full listings of looked after children click
here

for mental health statistics click here
and for community care click
here