§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the amount of space required to transfer a patient from a bed, couch or trolley, allowing manoeuvres, to an assisted bath under Standard 21.3 of his "National Minimum Standards for Care Homes"; [383]
(2) what estimate he has made of the costs of implementing Standard 22.2 of the "National Minimum Standards for Care Homes"; and how many homes currently without a passenger lift will have to install one. [384]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 25 June 2001]: National Minimum Standards will ensure that care provision is fit for purpose and meets the assessed needs of residents.
Where residents cannot walk to an assisted bath, sufficient space must be provided to allow safe and manageable transfer from any means used to transport residents to the bath.
The need for provision of particular facilities such as passenger lifts and the costs associated with their installation will vary from home to home.
It will be for the National Care Standards Commission to decide, in the particular circumstances of each home, whether the home conforms to all the standards necessary to meet the assessed needs of the residents.