HC Deb 01 November 1994 vol 248 cc1083-4W
Mr. Miller

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has, following the publication of Department of Health advice in "Welfare of Children and Young People in Hospital", to implement a visiting costs scheme to ensure that the parents of hospitalised children are not prevented from visiting their children regularly because of a lack of money.

Mr. Ainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce a visiting costs scheme for families with a sick child in hospital.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will establish a fund for hospital visiting costs; and if she will make a statement;

(2) if she will list the concessions available to families visiting sick children, in respect of travelling, parking and other necessities.

Mr. Sackville

The Hospital travel costs scheme provides financial assistance to parents on low income to enable them to accompany their children to and from hospital where this is medically necessary. The majority of national health service hospitals provide accommodation for parents to enable them to stay overnight at the hospital while their children receive treatment. Financial help is available from the social fund to enable parents in receipt of income support to visit their children in hospital. There are no plans to extend these arrangements.