Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Not Addressed
NHS England is not reducing the unacceptable variation in support for people with frailty across...
Recommendation
NHS England is not reducing the unacceptable variation in support for people with frailty across and within Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). There is significant and unexplained regional variation between areas – 32 out of 106 local NHS areas assessed less than 10% of patients aged 65 and over. The NICE’s guidelines specify that any patient living with frailty who has fallen in the past year should be offered a comprehensive falls risk assessment and comprehensive falls management. However, in 2024–25, only 30% of local NHS areas could have followed NICE guidelines. NHSE acknowledges that there is variation and told the Committee that it is asking ICBs, particularly those who stand out as poorly performing or with low numbers of people assessed and supported, to tackle this under-performance. recommendation NHS England should seek to reduce variation in support for people with frailty by establishing a threshold for intervening in areas of poor performance. Alongside its response to this report, it should write to the Committee to set out the nature of that intervention. 2
Government Response Summary
The government states it agrees with the recommendation but then provides a response entirely focused on net zero, innovation funding, and a Net Zero Innovation Board, which bears no relevance to the committee's specific recommendation about NHS England and frailty.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. will likely continue to be required as we determine the pathways towards net zero that are most effective, sustainable and represent the best value for money. The government recognises that the current funding landscape can be complex for businesses to navigate and has taken steps to improve accessibility and understanding of innovation funding support. This includes publishing the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework Delivery Plan that details the allocation of £4.2 billion of spending and the resulting programmes being supported over the current Spending Review period, aligned to the priorities in the Net Zero Research and Innovation Framework. Innovate UK has also launched an Innovation Hub which aims to help businesses find public funding and support for innovation in one place. The Net Zero Innovation Board, chaired by the Government Chief Scientific Advisor, will review the current net zero R&I portfolio and consider evidence to assess progress and emerging R&I challenges for support. This will inform future allocation decisions, recognising the fast-paced nature of innovation needed to deliver net zero.