§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were blocked in each NHS trust, in each348W of the last three years, by elderly patients waiting to be transferred to residential care; and if he will make a statement. [2581]
§ Jacqui SmithInformation on the delayed discharges of patients aged over 75 years is collected from each health authority on a quarterly basis. That information has been collected on a consistent basis for the last two years and has been placed in the Library. The information collected includes the number of patients delayed due to awaiting nursing or residential home placement. In some cases patients will be exercising their right to await a place in a home of their choice.