§ 4. Mr. Ron Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of private nursing homes in Wales; and what is his estimate of the percentage of total health care in Wales provided by this sector.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsAt 31 December 1983, the latest date for which information is available, there were 50 642 private nursing homes in Wales. They provided 1,414 beds in the private sector, and that compared with the average daily available beds in the NHS at the time of 22,474, of which 49 were authorised for private use.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister satisfied with the standard of provision in those private homes and with the level of monitoring? May I refer him particularly to Highmead residential home, run by the Care agency in Cardiff? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in that home residents are expected to pay £175 per week three months in advance? Is the hon. Gentleman further aware that pay cheques for staff employed by that home have bounced and staff have had to wait up to three months to receive their pay? Is the Minister further aware that in that home auxiliaries are carrying out the functions which should be carried out by properly trained and qualified staff? Finally is the hon. Gentleman aware that residents in that home have complained that they have not received enough to eat? Is that the standard of provision that the Minister wants? If it is not, what will he do about it?
§ Mr. RobertsThe hon. Gentleman should know that private nursing homes must be registered under the Registered Homes Act 1984, and that it is up to the local health authority to inspect the premises and see that all is well. It must do so at least twice every 12 months. With regard to the nursing home that the hon. Gentleman mentioned, I shall certainly ensure that that case is looked into.
§ Sir Anthony MeyerIs my hon. Friend aware that the new code of practice raising standards in those homes—in itself, very welcome — accompanied by the revised scale of payments which the Department of Health and Social Security is prepared to make to cover the costs in those homes — which is also desirable, in itself — are none the less putting a squeeze on those homes, many of which may be forced to go out of business and to throw their occupants on to the resources of the local authority?
§ Mr. RobertsIt is certainly the case that registration is not automatic. In view of the valuable contribution that those private nursing homes make to health care, it is absolutely essential that they should be of the highest standard. I understand the point made by my hon. Friend, but in general we would be extremely sad to lose any private homes, because of the value of their contribution.
§ Dr. Roger ThomasTo what extent does the Minister feel that the mushrooming of small private nursing homes, which are often overseen by untrained people, is alleviating the average waiting time for admission into the numerically stagnant places in local authority homes for the elderly, which are fast becoming mini-geriatric hospitals?
§ Mr. RobertsI should have thought that the hon. Gentleman, especially in view of his experience of medical practice, would welcome the fact that private nursing homes help to reduce the waiting list for National Health Service hospitals. Surely that is to be welcomed. Furthermore, patients and doctors have the right to choose private treatment. Far from harming the NHS, the main effects are additions to the country's health care resources and reduced pressure on the NHS.