§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people who were receiving nursing care on (1) October 2001 are waiting to be assessed for free nursing care; [38351]
(2) what the average time for an individual to be assessed for free nursing care has been in the last three years; [38353]
(3) how many people were receiving nursing care on 1 October 2001. [38352]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 5 March 2002]: The likely number of those self funders eligible for national health service funded nursing care at any one time is based on the results of a survey carried out in June 2001. The total number of self funders identified through the survey was 42,700.
At 31 December 2001 around 80 per cent. of determinations had been competed. Around 95 per cent. had been completed by the end of February. These figures would include those in a home on 1 October 2001, when NHS funded care was introduced, as well as those who had entered a home after that date.
Determinations for NHS funded nursing care were only introduced with effect from I October 2001.