To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to implement the National service framework for long-term conditions; and what assessment he has made of his Department’s effectiveness in doing so. (280274)

Responsibility for implementing the national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions rests with local health and social care organisations. The NSF has a 10-year implementation phase, with the expectation that health and social care organisations plan and deliver service improvements in line with local priorities and needs over the period of implementation.

“The National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions: National Support for Local Implementation”, published in May 2008, provides an overview of the resources, tools and guidance provided by the Department and others to support local implementation of the NSF. A copy has been placed in the Library.

We have not assessed the Department’s effectiveness in supporting local organisations to implement the NSF.