"Fit for the Future?"

HC Deb 02 May 2000 vol 349 cc50-1W

Mr. Waterson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to announce his conclusions based on the responses received to "Fit for the Future?"; and if he will make a statement. [119738]

Mr. Hutton

We intend to publish the finalised standards for care homes for older people later this year.

We are still considering the comments we received on "Fit for the Future?" before finalising the standards and the timetable for implementing them. However, we indicated our initial thinking in some key areas on 15 February 2000, Official Report, column 176WH.

We believe that some of the 260 proposals in "Fit for the Future?" may only have a marginal impact on the quality of care and it is highly unlikely that this many standards will be needed.

We do not accept that fixed ratios are the best means of specifying the number and qualifications of staff to be employed in a nursing home. For qualified nurses, numbers should relate to the assessed needs of residents at any one time. We are considering what models of assessment should be recognised by the National Care Standards Commission for this purpose and how nursing needs are defined so that nurse staffing levels can be set accurately and realistically.

We are looking very carefully at the proposed standards on the physical environment of care homes. These must take account of the high levels of physical frailty that many older residents in care homes have. In determining room size it is important to bear in mind aspects such as quality of life and safety for residents and staff. However, we do not intend to impose unreasonable physical standards on existing homes. Physical standards will be set at a level already being met by some providers and which other providers should be able to meet over time.

None of the standards will be introduced until at least 2002 when the Commission takes on its regulatory function. Some of the more challenging standards will not be implemented until some time after that. Providers will be given realistic timescales in which to meet any new standards.