§ Lord Lipseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to make information available on the number of nursing home residents who are found to fall within the continuing healthcare eligibility criteria and in consequence to qualify for fully funded National Health Service care rather than their nursing costs as a result of their assessment for nursing needs. [HL256]
§ The parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)There are no plans to collect this information centrally. Health authorities already monitor the number of people receiving fully funded National Health Service continuing care in all settings, including nursing homes.
§ Lord Lipseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will indicate, in cases where a potential resident plans to move to a nursing home in another health authority or local authority area:
- (a) which health authority will be responsible for assessing the individual and paying the home; and
- (b) in cases where the person also requires local authority funding, which local authority will be responsible for assessment and paying the home. [HL257]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathThe issues surrounding residency are dealt with in the draft guidance on free nursing care that has been issued for consultation today. Essentially, the health authority or primary care trust where the person is registered with a general practitioner is responsible for free nursing care. The council where the person was resident prior to entering a nursing home will retain responsibility for funding the other costs of the placement.
120WAWe look forward to receiving any comments that my noble friend may have on this and other issues during the course of consultation.
§ Lord Lipseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether from October 2001 those persons who currently fund their own nursing care will:
- (a) be informed in writing of the outcome of the nursing assessment and the amount the National Health Service is to pay the nursing home for the nursing care they receive;
- (b) be advised to rearrange any existing contract with the home to reduce agreed fees by that amount; and
- (c) be given information about how to appeal. [HL258]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathDetailed draft guidance on the implementation of free nursing care will be issued shortly for consultation. After the period of consultation and before planned implementation for those funding their own care from 1 October, we intend to issue a leaflet aimed at residents, their families and carers that will explain the changes. These issues will be addressed in both those documents. Individuals will be advised that from 1 October their contract with a nursing home will need to reflect that from that date the National Health Service will become responsible for their care by a registered nurse.
§ Lord Lipseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What monitoring of fee levels in nursing homes is planned to ensure that residents' fees are reduced by the nursing home to a level to cover living and personal care costs only. [HL259]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathWe have no such plan. When free nursing care is introduced for those paying for their nursing care from 1 October, it will be a matter for the individual and the nursing home concerned to agree how the National Health Service contribution to their nursing care will be taken into account in the fee levels that they pay. Advice on this will be included in a leaflet for residents, their families and their carers that will be issued before October.
§ Lord Lipseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to ensure that any increases in the costs of registered nursing care through inflation and wages rises will be covered by the National Health Service as they occur; and if so, how. [HL260]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathFrom October 2001 health authorities will receive an addition to their general allocations for care by a registered nurse in a nursing home. Each year decisions about increases in general allocations take account of the pay and price pressures health authorities face.