Social care told to prepare for winter pressures

Council social care directors and health partners have been told to have plans in place for winter pressures by early November.

A Department of Health letter sent to councils and strategic health authorities say these should include joint NHS and social care arrangements, out-of-hours services and an assessment of capacity.

There will be no need to submit a detailed plan to the DH, but departmental performance managers will be raising the issue in their regular meetings with agencies.