§ Mr. BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Government are taking to ascertain the number of national health service continuing care beds likely to be needed per 1,000 population aged 75 years to 85 years and 85 years plus;
(2) what steps the Government are taking to ascertain the numbers of elderly people likely to require continuous nursing care per 1,000 population aged 75 years to 85 years and 85 years plus;
(3) what steps the Government are taking to ensure that adequate provision of national health service continuous nursing care is available in each health authority area.
§ Mr. YeoIt is the responsibility of local health authorities to assess the health needs of their resident population and to plan their purchasing strategies accordingly. We have made it clear to health authorities that their duty to provide continuing residential health care for those highly dependent people who need it remains unchanged, and that no adjustment to the level of such care should be made except as part of an agreed strategy with the relevant local authorities.