Social Care: Integrated Care Systems Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Social Care: Integrated Care Systems

Lord Polak Excerpts
Wednesday 11th January 2023

(1 year, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Markham Portrait Lord Markham (Con)
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This is the whole point and the way that we are moving; the real decision-makers running their local areas should be the ICBs. They know their areas and the needs of the people—including people with special needs and learning disabilities—more than anyone. It is absolutely their responsibility to understand the needs in their areas and to ensure that they are provided for under the commissions.

Lord Polak Portrait Lord Polak (Con)
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My Lords, unpaid carers throughout the country are, more than often, working 24/7. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver this high-quality care, including support for unpaid carers. How confident are my noble friend the Minister and his department that local authorities will undertake carers’ assessments for unpaid carers?

Lord Markham Portrait Lord Markham (Con)
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From my experience I understand that this is a very important part of their remit and role. As we are all aware, the unpaid carer role is vital and historically has probably not been recognised as much as it should have been.