HC Deb 17 December 1998 vol 322 cc621-2W
Mr. Prior

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the use of national guidelines to protect patients' pocket money from unscrupulous nursing home owners. [64301]

Mr. Hutton

Guidance issued by the National Association of Health Authorities (now the Health Service Confederation) in 1988 advises health authorities responsible for regulating nursing homes that residents in nursing homes should, wherever possible, manage their own financial affairs.

"Home Life: a code of practice for residential care" further advises that, should residents be incapable of looking after their own finances, arrangements should be made for a friend or relative to act as an agent or appointee for the resident. A homeowner or manager of a home should not undertake this responsibility unless there is no alternative.

Any suspicion that a homeowner is misappropriating a resident's money or valuables should be referred to the police.