Wanless: demand for intensive services may not decline

There is little evidence as yet to justify the much-touted claim that investment in preventive services will reduce future demand for intensive services, Sir Derek Wanless said today.

Speaking after his address to the National Social Services Conference, he said his King’s Fund-sponsored review into older people’s care services was yet to find sufficient evidence to support the claim.

He said: “There is some evidence in terms of short-term interventions like falls clinics [but not for the long-term].”

Wanless also confirmed he would not produce any interim findings ahead of the white paper on health and social care, expected in December, saying his review would be hard-pressed to meet its target of reporting next March.

His speech gave little away in terms of what the review may conclude but he warned his audience not to assume the government would increase investment in social care on the back of it.