HC Deb 06 February 1992 vol 203 cc284-5W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of the national health service in providing long-term nursing care of the elderly, and on the circumstances under which private nursing care or private, voluntary or local authority residential care should be used; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

The role of the national health service in providing long-term nursing care is clearly set out in the White Paper "Caring for People" (Cm. 849) at paragraphs 4.19-4.22. Health authorities may make use of private nursing homes or nursing services as they see fit in the light of local circumstances and priorities and available resources. Similarly, it is for local authorities to decide whether to provide accommodation in their own homes or to arrange residential care in the independent sector for those who are in need of residential care.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many national health service patients over retirement age have been discharged directly into(a) private nursing homes, (b) voluntary nursing homes, (c) private care homes, (d) voluntary care homes and (e) local authority part III accommodation for each year since 1979.

Mr. Dorrell

This information is not available centrally.