HC Deb 24 January 1990 vol 165 cc709-11W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of(a) residential homes for the aged and (b) nursing homes which have been opened since the passage of the Registered Homes Act 1984, in the cities of Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle upon Tyne and in the boroughs of Brighton, Eastbourne, Bournemouth, Torquay, Southport and Hastings.

Mr. Freeman

Information is not available centrally in the form requested. Residential care homes are registered with local social services authorities and nursing homes with district health authorities. The tables give details of the number of establishments catering for the elderly in the areas to which the hon. Member refers:

Information recorded on form K036 about institutions1 registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984
District health authorities As at 31 December 1985 number of institutions1 with beds for the elderly2 As at 31 March 1988 number of institutions1 with beds for the elderly2
Newcastle 0 1
Leeds Eastern, Leeds Western 9 33
Sheffield 6 14
Brighton 28 48
Eastbourne 37 38
Hastings 36 39
East Dorset 77 82
Bristol 32 50
Torbay 24 32
North, East, South, West and Central Birmingham 11 30
Liverpool 9 26
Southport 36 58
North, Central and South Manchester 5 13
1 Institutions include private hospitals, nursing homes, mental nursing homes and clinics.
2 Only including beds intended for those aged 65 years and over requiring long stay nursing care.

Number of registered 1 residential care homes for the elderly
At 31 March:
Local Authority 1985 2 1988 3
Liverpool 29 41
Leeds 42 61
Manchester 36 53
Sheffield 15 29
Birmingham 86 127
Avon 180 201
Newcastle 23 24
West Sussex 293 314
East Sussex 366 398
Hampshire 319 409
Devon 516 669
Sefton 99 131
1 Includes homes exempt from registration under section 1(5)(j) of the Registered Homes Act 1984.
2 Includes homes which are reported as catering for a mix of clients.
3 Provisional

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessments take place of aged persons before they are placed in either a nursing home or residential care; whether he expects to make changes to these procedures; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

The assessment of elderly people for whom residential care is arranged by local authorities is a matter for the authority concerned. At present no assessment is necessary before a person enters a residential or nursing home in the independent sectors, with or without help from income support.

Our White Paper, "Caring for People" proposes that from April 1991 local authority social services departments should carry out an appropriate assessment of individuals' needs for social care, including residential and nursing home care, in collaboration with medical, nursing and other caring agencies as necessary and having regard to the wishes of the individual and his carers, before deciding the appropriate type of care. The National Health Service and Community Care Bill at present before the House would lay a duty on local authorities to carry out such assessments. The preparation of guidance to local authorities on assessment and case management is also in hand.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the length of time taken for the registration of residential care homes(a) nationally and (b) in the city of Liverpool, from the time an application is submitted under the Registered Homes Act 1984 until a certificate has been issued.

Mr. Freeman

This information is not held centrally.

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