§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What guidance they have given to health authorities as a result of the Coughlan case. [HL590]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)We have issued interim guidance. This requires health and local authorities, in consultation with each other and, where appropriate, involving primary care groups, to satisfy themselves that their continuing and community care policies and eligibility criteria and other relevant procedures are in line with the Court of208WA Appeal judgment on the Coughlan case and existing guidance, and to take further legal advice where necessary. The interim guidance also states that where authorities revise eligibility criteria following any review, they should consider what action they need to take to reassess service users against the revised criteria [HSC 1999/18: LAC(99) 30].
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the recent survey by the Royal College of Nursing, they are satisfied that all health authorities are now complying with the decision in the Coughlan case. [HL591]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe have asked all the health authorities to review their eligibility criteria for continuing healthcare following theCoughlan judgment. We are continuing to monitor the situation.