Continuing Care Beds

HC Deb 15 June 1992 vol 209 cc407-8W

Mr. Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department issues to health authorities regarding the discharge of patients from continuing care beds to private residential or nursing homes.

Mr. Yeo

Guidance "Discharge of patients from hospital—HC(89)5", on discharge procedures was issued to health authorities in February 1989. A copy is available in the Library.

Mr. Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list, by health authority area, the numbers of

(b) the level of reserves of nursing and ancilliary services available for emergencies and relapses of patients during post-operative recuperation.

Mr. Sackville

The introduction of a new national health service research and development (R and D) strategy marks our commitment to increasing the resources devoted to R and D for the national health service. Although staffing levels are primarily decisions for local management, the national health service reforms provide an effective mechanism for targeting resources where they are most responsive to patients' needs, including post-operative recuperation.