§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy with regard to health authorities charging for the supply of incontinence pads to residents of private care or nursing homes.
§ Mr. DorrellHealth authorities are not empowered to charge for the incontinence pads which they may, at their96W discretion, supply to people living in private residential homes. Private nursing homes were specifically excluded from the free supply arrangements promulgated in 1974, since the treatment such homes provide would normally include any necessary services or equipment and the cost would be covered by the fees or charges paid to them by or on behalf of the patients (including those paid by a health authority under contractual arrangements). Under section 7 of the Health and Medicines Act 1988 health authorities may supply such goods to nursing homes for a fee which includes an element of profit. The Department is on the point of initiating a review of arrangements for the supply of incontinence pads to people living in their own homes or in private residential care.