§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharge patients there are in the Barrow and Furness constituency waiting to leave hospital. [45263]
§ Jacqui SmithOn 17 March 2002, there were 52 delayed transfers of care recorded at Furness general hospital in Barrow. Of these, 32 awaited placement in a nursing or residential home; seven were awaiting completion of assessment; six were waiting for NHS non-acute care; five were there for reasons of patient choice and two for other reasons.
The number of delayed transfers of care in Cumbria is being reduced with the additional funds allocated to Cumbria county council as part of "Building Capacity" 786W and the implementation of the report of the Change Agents, which was commissioned by the Department of Health. This improvement is expected to continue through 2002–03.