Members of the Lords discussed a proposal for a funding review of adult social care to be carried out by the Office for Budgetary Responsibility by the end of 2014. The establishment of a tribunal system to help individuals challenge the decisions of local authorities - especially concerning individual eligibility, care plans and the level of personal budgets - was also considered.
Other suggested changes related to the provision of aftercare for those treated under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the duty of local authorities to maintain registers of adults who are sight-impaired. Members also called for clarity around the provision of adult social care for prisoners and discussed several amendments relating to end of life care.
The Care Bill now moves to report stage, a further chance for scrutiny. No date is yet scheduled.
Care Bill committee stage day seven: Monday 22 July
Members of the Lords discussed continuity of care - how users of care services can be guaranteed the same quality of care when they move to a new home in a new local authority. They also looked at how to ensure service users are provided with a high level of protection from abuse.
Committee stage continues on 29 July when further changes will be discussed.
Care Bill committee stage day six: Tuesday 16 July
Members of the Lords began by discussing the circumstances in which a specially trained person should carry out a care assessment, for example in the case of deafness or autism. They also discussed eligibility for social care and the proposed cap on care costs.
Committee stage continues on 22 July when further amendments will be discussed.
Care Bill committee stage day five: Tuesday 9 July
Members of the Lords discussed ways to help prevent the need for care and support, including the role housing can play. They also looked at how care can be better integrated with health services, including the responsibility for cooperation and collaboration between local authorities and relevant partners, such as NHS bodies in their area.
Care Bill committee stage day four: Wednesday 3 July
Members of the Lords discussed the integration of health and social care services, and the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in developing a system of performance assessment for providers of health and adult social care.
They also looked at how local authorities and health bodies could ensure an individual’s wellbeing when issuing guidance or regulations.
Care Bill committee stage day three: Wednesday 12 June
The discussion began on the functions of the Health Research Authority (HRA), and how it can encourage research and innovation to be adopted by the NHS.
Lords also looked at the establishment of the Human Tissue and Embryo Authority, a new body that would replace the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority. They also considered the powers of the Care Quality Commission in reviewing the quality of healthcare services.
Care Bill committee stage day two: Monday 10 June
Lords discussed the role of Health Education England (HEE) in ensuring the staff they train are able to work across the health and social care boundary in an integrated way. Following this peers considered whether HEE should set up a register of qualified care assistants, in order to prevent unqualified or unregistered carers looking after patients.
The discussion also covered quality improvement in education and training, and whether HEE should develop a mandatory training curriculum for health and care support workers who are delivering direct care to service users.
Care Bill committee stage day one: Tuesday 4 June
Members of the Lords discussed Health Education England (HEE), an organisation that provides leadership for training and development in healthcare. Peers questioned the role of HEE in setting national training standards, and also looked at how it could co-ordinate its activities with the NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Care Bill second reading: Tuesday 21 May
Earl Howe (Conservative), the parliamentary under-secretary of state for the Department of Health, opened the debate, outlining the key features of the bill. He explained that the Care Bill is intended to give people a better understanding of what is available and how to get help when they need it. He said: ‘While many have good experiences, the system can often be confusing, disempowering and not flexible enough to fit around individuals’ lives.’
Baroness Wheeler (Labour) responded, welcoming the bill, but highlighting a number of concerns, including its impact on pensioners, and where the resources for local authorities will come from. She concluded by saying: ‘we on these benches will work hard to meet this challenge, and ensure that older and disabled people, and their carers and families, get the best possible deal.’
Baroness Jolly (Liberal Democrat) also welcomed the bill, in particular the prospect of a coherent future care framework, a cap for those with high care costs and new methods of dealing with hospital failure.
Care Bill summary
The bill will reform the law around care and support for adults, including measures to:
- put in place safeguards for adults from abuse or neglect
- make provision about care standards
- establish Health Education England
- establish the Health Research Authority.
Further information
Image: PA