§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of staffing levels in acute NHS hospitals in respect of the ability of the service to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment within the agreed national clinical standards. [4342]
§ Mr. HuttonThe work force commitments to recruit additional nurses, doctors and therapists in the NHS Plan take account of the need to increase the number of staff
114W
§ Jacqui SmithWe have today issued draft guidance and directions on implementing free nursing care in England and copies have been placed in the Library. The Department will introduce this from 1 October for those who pay for their care themselves. This will bring financial benefits to approximately 35,000 people who currently pay for their care from their own resources and could save up to just over £5,000 in a full year for some people.
It will also end the anomaly of people having to pay for care that is provided free of charge by the National Health Service in other settings.
Those people whose care is currently provided by councils and who receive free nursing care anyway will receive it free via the NHS from April 2002.