18 October 2002
At the National Social Services conference in Cardiff on October 16, Health Secretary Alan Milburn said responses to the fines proposal were being considered. But he firmly signalled that the government was determined to press ahead with the new system.
He said the reimbursement Bill would have its first reading soon after the Queen's Speech and the scheme would be implemented in April 2003.
Milburn believes the Scandinavian-style system will help hospitals cut waiting lists.
Councils with a good record of joint working and low levels of delayed discharge need not be concerned about the proposals, he said. 'This will provide an incentive – which does not currently exist – to end the misery of what is sometimes pejoratively called "bed-blocking" but is in fact thousands of older people needlessly trapped in hospital.'
However, John Ransford, the LGA's director of education and social policy, said the government was committed to a 'mad rush' to implement the scheme. 'Our view is that it militates against partnership working. It is a recipe for difficulty and argument. This only looks at one part of the problem. Important though delayed discharges are, they can only be solved by a whole-systems approach.'
Alison King, chair of the LGA's social services and health executive and leader of Norfolk County Council, said: 'These proposals are a spectacular own goal against their stated aim. We are all hard pressed to ensure sufficient residential and community services now – taking more money out of the system, or blaming one part of the system will hardly help.'
LGA politicians were due to meet on October 17 to discuss their next move.
Milburn promised less earmarking of funds, with ring-fenced cash falling from 17% of social services spending this year to 15% next year, 11% the following year and 9% in 2005/06.
He also unveiled plans to give all older people the right to choose between receiving continuing care directly or to receive a direct cash payment to purchase care that better suits their individual needs.
He added that the government would set up children's trusts to bring together all their services.
PFoct2002
