§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the national ratio is of care workers to residents in state nursing homes. [99623]
§ Jacqui SmithThe information requested is not available because it is not collected centrally: much of the provision of care homes providing nursing is commissioned by local authorities from the private sector. The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) does not collect information about the numbers of care workers or nurses in care homes providing nursing. Rather, it inspects staffing levels to see that they are appropriate at all times to the assessed needs of service users, the size, layout and purpose of the home. The NCSC will make information available later in the year to the public and Government about registered services.