Continuing Care (Hansard, 31 January 1994)

§ Ms Lynne
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rights a patient has to receive continuing care in NHS hospitals for(a) dementia and (b) other chronic conditions; and what regulations and guidance her Department has issued on this matter.

§ Mr. Bowis
The "Caring for People" White Paper—Cm 849—sets out clearly that all health authorities have a responsibility to secure continuing care for people who require it for reasons of ill-health.

§ Ms Lynne
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure that there are sufficient long-stay beds for people wishing to receive continuing care in hospital.

§ Mr. Bowis
The White Paper "Caring for People" made it clear that the national health service has a continuing responsibility to secure long-term care for those who need it for reasons of ill-health. Health authorities as purchasers are encouraged to consider the range of options which may be available for the long-term care needs of their resident populations: whether by placing contracts for services with their own directly managed units or by other district health authorities, NHS trusts, or the independent sector.

§ Ms Lynne
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures her Department has taken to publicise to patients and their relatives the options available to them for continuing care.

§ Mr. Bowis
The Government have made it clear to health authorities and local authority social services departments that they should explain to all people who may require continuing care the options available to them. Under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 local authorities are expected to publish community care plans in collaboration with health authorities which take into account the needs of the local population. The Department has produced a leaflet, "Community Care changes in April 1993", on community care services, which was made generally available to the public, and an information pack for voluntary and private sector providers explaining the new arrangements. These were also sent to voluntary organisations who represent patients/residents and their relatives.