Round and about the UK - National Council Reports

The National Service Framework for the Elderly Implementation Group has now been established at Assembly level. Standards will be based on the English NSF but two of the standards will be re-visited, namely that of Intermediate Care and Mental Health Services.

Wanless Report
The Review of Health and Social Services in Wales (the Wanless Report) has now been published. It identifies a number of key areas. Per capita spending in Wales is more than England but there is a higher prevalence of ill health. The report outlines the importance of disengaging from a strategy of a service over-dependent on acute hospital care. The Council believes that this will be a key area of involvement for geriatricians. The report also stresses the need for better information systems as a key to the future. The Assembly are about to launch an “Informing Health” strategy.

Geriatricians wish to engage with the Intermediate Care Strategy of Care rather than Intermediate Care as “components” of service support.

Intermediate care in Wales
The Council will stress, in its meeting with the CMO, the importance of not viewing Intermediate Care as simply a way of avoiding hospital admission or supporting the back end of the hospital process. It is the Council’s wish to develop the strategy based on care pathway development, engaging at the level of the frail older patient, a strategy which will link the resources and services of primary and secondary care, and reinforce the key role of geriatricians.

Ed Wilkins
BGS Wales Council