§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances NHS trusts will top up the fees of a social services department-funded nursing home placement; how many NHS trusts are topping-up; and how much trusts have spent on topping-up in each of the last three years for which figures are available. [140793]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 29 November 2000]: The National Health Service cannot top up the fees for a basic package of nursing home care funded by social services. However, the NHS will provide services which are additional to the basic package of nursing home care, such as continence advice or chiropody. Information is not collected centrally on the separate costs of these services, which form part of normal community health service and other NHS provision.