Recommendation 3

NHS England’s existing oversight arrangements are not improving GPs’ assessment and support of people with frailty. It is not clear exactly who is responsible for improving performance. NHSE considers that ICBs are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their population; and that the service providers must ensure that the services they are commissioned to provide are delivered. We are concerned that this divided system could lead to no-one being responsible. NHSE is aware that this system of accountability is challenging for ICBs given the large numbers of providers in general practice and community services. In the future, NHSE intends to hold ICBs to account for commissioning against the promised modern service framework, and expects there will be data from a national frailty dashboard to support the framework. However, it is still finalising details of how this will work. recommendation The Department of Health & Social Care and NHS England should set out how new accountability arrangements will improve how GPs assess and support people living with, or at risk of, frailty.