Assessments still taking too long

Social services departments are still struggling to assess older
people’s needs within 48 hours of first contact, new figures
reveal.

Department of Health community care statistics for 2002-3 show that
only one in five assessments of the 756,000 over-65s who needed one
were completed within two days.

About half were completed within two weeks and just over 70 per
cent within six weeks.

Under a public service agreement target set by the government, all
assessments of older people should begin within 48 hours and be
completed within four weeks, with 70 per cent done within two weeks
by the end of the year.

By December, all social services for older people should be
provided within four weeks of being assessed as requiring it, with
70 per cent within two weeks.

However, figures for 2002-3 show that only 44 per cent were
receiving care packages within two weeks.

The number of carer assessments increased last year by 21 per cent
to 313,000. 

– Statistics from
www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/comcare2003/ccstats2003.htm