A MUCH vaunted plan to run NHS and social care from one organisation is to be torn up amid criticism of services.
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Solihull NHS Care Trust, set up in 2006, is to lose its right to provide social and NHS care.
The care trust had wanted to continue as it was but was told in March by West Midlands NHS chiefs that it should focus only on deciding where cash is spent, rather than providing services.
This would see it become a primary care trust – but these are to be axed under reforms announced last month, leaving GPs in charge of funds.
The Government hopes the move will save on management costs. The most recent figures, for 2008/09, show ex-chief executive Sally Burton got about £130,000.
When it was set up the trust said there would be a ‘seamless’ services offering ‘easier access’ and ‘better integration’.
But Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council – which used to run social care but is now only accountable – has faced criticism over the trust.
It was judged a ‘priority improvement council’ by the Department of Health last year.
In December, the Care Quality Commission, the national watchdog, rated SMBC’s social services amongst the worst in the country.
A recent council report found the speed of assessment for social care – which is means tested – was ‘consistently poor’.
Too many were moving in nursing homes, a sign that there are not services to care for people at home, it said.
And the Audit Commission spending watchdog has ‘highlighted a number of concerns within the current arrangements’ the council said. Yet services face cost-cutting.
It is not known which body will now provide social services.
The council said there is ‘substantial risk to the local people if effective, robust arrangements are not put in place in a timely manner’.
