§ Ms. GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated number of frail elderly, disabled and chronically sick patients no longer in need of acute hospital services who need to be rehabilitated and transferred to community care; what plans he has for professional training and establishing nationally-determined rates of pay for community carers; and what is the estimated average cost of care in the community perseriously disabled patient.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe organisation of rehabilitation services is a matter for individual district health authorities together with local authority social services departments. Information about such numbers is not held in the form requested. As set out in our White Paper "Caring for People" (Cmnd. 849) we welcome the developments in the role of home care workers which are already under way in a number of areas and have no plans to create a profession of community carer. We are currently discussing the detailed financial implications of the White Paper with the local authority associations.