§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy in respect of care packages for individuals or their relatives who refuse to accept discharge arrangements from hospital into independent sector residential or nursing care.
§ Mr. Bowis'Where an individual does not want, for whatever reason, to be discharged to a nursing home or
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§ Dr. MawhinneyInformation on waiting lists for hospital day case treatment by regional health authority and in annual time bands is shown in the table. There has been a rise of around 7,000 since March 1993 in the number of patients waiting more than a year for day case treatment. However, the fact remains that the number fell dramatically from nearly 33,000 in December 1989, to less than 11,000 in March 1993.
It is the time people wait that matters not the number waiting. Half of all admissions to hospital are immediate. Of those admitted from waiting lists almost half are admitted within five weeks, nearly 75 per cent. within three months and 98 per cent. within a year.
residential care home the local and health authorities should seek to work together with the individual and their family or carer to find a satisfactory alternative solution.