The Department of Health has developed two standard contracts which will be used on a mandatory basis by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) from April 2009.

The standard contracts will be used for health and care services with any provider, including independent care homes, for new contracts commencing on or after 1 April 2009. There is one for general community based services which will cover continuing healthcare and intermediate care within care homes, for example, and another for specialist mental health/learning disability or substance misuse services.

The full story can be read in the February issue of Care Agenda, our monthly newsletter available only to ECCA members. For details of how to join, click here.