The need for single registration care homes. 1: Current provision.

As we await the government White Paper on social services, the authors examine; in the first of two articles, the current two-tier service which means that elderly people are often moved unnecessarily between residential and nursing homes when their health needs change. The Royal College of Nursing's proposals for single registration care homes is explained on pages 32 and 33 in this issue. The second article will appear next week.