§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when his Department last reviewed guidance on hospital discharge with respect to carers' needs; and what arrangements are in place to monitor compliance with the guidance; [65104]
(2) if he will undertake an evaluation of the appropriateness of support offered to carers as part of strategies to reduce the number of delayed discharges from hospital. [65103]
§ Jacqui SmithCarer support and strength of caring arrangements are two of the areas assessed when putting together a care plan for the patient leaving hospital. The written care plan which the patient is given includes the support carers are willing and able to offer.
The Hospital Discharge Workbook, issued in 1994, gives guidance to the national health service, social services and other agencies on hospital discharge procedures. The Workbook emphasises that the patient 868W and carer should be made fully aware of arrangements for discharge and understand fully what is going to happen. The chief executive of the hospital trust is responsible for ensuring that discharges take place appropriately. We are revising the workbook and will incorporate the needs of carers.