§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if(a) stoma care, (b) ulcer/pressure sore dressing, (c) peg feeding and (d) changing catheters for residents in nursing homes will be paid for under his proposals if they are delegated and supervised by a registered nurse. [144920]
§ Mr. HuttonWe are not developing a task-based approach to the care provided by a registered nurse, but one centred on the needs of the person and input which needs the skills of a registered nurse. The nurse responsible for the individual's care will assess whether any aspect of the care can be safely delegated. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the National Health Service will pay for the input from the registered nurse.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents currently in nursing homes will be affected by his proposals for the NHS to pay for nursing care in nursing homes from October 2001; and if he will publish estimates of those likely to be affected in future years. [144921]
§ Mr. HuttonApproximately 35,000 residents of nursing homes will benefit from our proposals for the National Health Service to pay for care from registered nurses in nursing homes. Other changes we are making to the funding of long-term care mean that numbers will be broadly similar for the next three years.