HC Deb 17 July 2001 vol 372 cc117-8W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what deadline strategic health authorities will have to align continuing NHS health care criteria, described in HSC 2001/015: LAC (2001)18. [4093]

Jacqui Smith

It is intended that strategic health authorities will be established from April 2002. Any alignment of continuing care criteria that may be required should be an early priority of the new SHAs. This should build on the request in Health Service Circular 2001/015: Local Authority Circular (2001)18 that existing health authorities ensure that continuing health care policies comply with the new guidance. Any action arising from this review should be commenced from October 2001.

for each national health service trust are published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy, England", copies of which are in the Library.