A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

supervision of patients in the community and an increase in facilities. See 1999.
The Report of the Independent Advisory Panel (chairman, Sir Leslie Turnberg),
"Health Services in London - A Strategic Review", found that all of the health and related
community services were under pressure. The panel made proposals to improve standards of
primary care, and to enable services to be planned equitably and rationally across the whole
of London.
A Committee (chairwoman, Dame June Clark) of the Clinical Standards Advisory
Group reported in "Community Health Care for Elderly People" that the range, level and
quality of
1998 Cont 3
1998 cont community health services for elderly people varied greatly from place to place;
the services were fragmented; and users and carers were confused about what services were
available and who was responsible for providing them.
"Not Because They Are Old", a report of an inquiry requested by the Secretary of State
for Health, found that old people received worse care in hospitals than younger patients, and
that their wards were badly maintained and equipped. In the report the Secretary of State
wrote "No older person in hospital should go without the fundamental care that contributes to
recovery - to be helped to eat and drink; to lie in a clean dry bed; and to be treated with
respect". See 1999.
A White Paper "Modernising Social Services", Cm.4169, suggested pooling the
budgetary and staff resources of health authorities and social services departments for the
care of certain care groups; setting national standards of domiciliary and residential care;
introducing independent inspection of institutions and services through eight regional
Commissions for Care Standards; creating children's rights officers; and a General Social
Care Council to replace existing bodies which regulate the training of, set standards and
regulate social services staff. See 1999.
"A Matter of Chance for Carers?", a report from the Social Services Inspectorate,
found that help for carers continued to be a "lottery of location" with a wide variation in
quantity and type of help available between local authorities.
The King's Fund published "The Carers Compass" intended to draw the attention of
NHS commissioners and managers to carers' needs and the services available from local
authorities and voluntary organisations.
"Partnership in Action. New Opportunities between Health and Social Services", a
discussion document published by the Department of Health, advocated joint working
between health and social services, pooled budgets and a lead authority.
"The Health of the Nation. A Policy Assessed" reviewed the Government's policy to
improve the health of the population (see 1992), and concluded that the policy had failed to
realise its full potential due to lack of sufficient priority, of cross-departmental commitment,
and of collaboration between the NHS and other bodies.
The Department of Health published a "Report of Emerging Findings of the Chief
Medical Officer's Project to Strengthen the Public Health Function in England" which
defined five main themes and discussed possible actions related to them. The themes were a
wider understanding of health; better coordination; an increase in capacity and capabilities;
sustained development; and effective joint working. See 1999.
The NHS Management Executive published "Better Health and Better Health Care:
Implementing 'The New NHS' and 'Our Healthier Nation' ", and "The New NHS:
Establishing Primary Care Groups".
"New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare", Cm.3805, reviewed