Care Homes: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the removal of dedicated Care Home Teams on the quality and timeliness of clinical support provided to care home residents.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock
The National Health Service is committed to ensuring the healthcare provision matches the needs of care homes registered with general practices (GPs). From 1 October 2020, primary care networks (PCNs) became responsible for the full Enhanced Health in Care Homes clinical service set out in the GP Contract.
Under Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH), commissioners must ensure that all eligible local care homes have a named clinical lead and are assigned to a local PCN who is responsible for delivering the EHCH requirements. PCNs must establish and coordinate an multidisciplinary team to deliver the EHCH requirements. This includes a weekly ‘home round’ of their care home patients, where patients identified as a clinical priority for assessment and care are prioritised for review. The checks should include appropriate and consistent medical oversight and input from a GP and/or geriatrician. PCNs, working with multidisciplinary teams, must develop personalised care plans with care home patients to strengthen support for care home residents, their families, and staff.
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