Care management in the community: a case study

The rhetoric surrounding the reforms of the NHS and Community Care Act makes much of the benefits to clients. The reforms have been promoted as a means of improving efficiency and making services more responsive to the needs of clients and carers. A case study is described here and the issues raised are considered. The incident occurred in 1994, the year following the implementation of the NHS and Community Care Act. It shows lack of coordination of services and teamwork, a poor response to identified needs and gaps in service provision.