§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that nursing and residential homes are fully licensed to care for patients before the patient is sent there upon release from the hospital.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyDepartment of Health guidance asks health authorities to ensure that appropriate plans are made for the continuing care of patients as necessary on their discharge from hospital. These plans should include ensuring that a nursing or residential care home placement is suitable and acceptable in all respects.
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that owners of a residential home who are deemed unfit to run a home will not later open another similar facility.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIt is for local authorities to satisfy themselves, by making thorough inquiries, of the suitability of applicants for registration of residential care homes. The Department assists by acting as a channel of information between authorities about people who have had their registration cancelled and provides a consultancy service to authorities seeking information about applications for homes with children and young people under age 18.