HC Deb 27 June 2002 vol 387 cc1093-4W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 2002,Official Report, column 167W, on long-term care beds, what resources and local priorities will prevent primary care trusts and NHS trusts from providing continence services. [63866]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 24 June 2002]:Primary care trusts and national health service trusts provide continence services as part of their general community based services.

It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

As a result of the Budget, the NHS in England will receive an annual average real terms growth in resources of 7.4 per cent. for the five years from 2003–04 to 2007–08. This means that over the same five year period there will be an increase of £34 billion in NHS funding for England. This is the highest sustained growth in funding in the history of the NHS.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 June 2002,Official Report,column 167W, on long-term care beds, if he will set out the factors he considers other than number of beds in his determination of planning expenditure on long-term care. [63868]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 24 June 2002]:Chapter 2 and Research Volume 1 of the Report of the Royal Commission on long-term care set out the factors which affect the demand for and cost of long-term care.