§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much each(a) primary care trust and (b) health authority paid in respect of free nursing care up to 31 October; and how many nursing home residents were placed in each registered nursing care contribution band; [12341]
(2) what estimate he has made of how many hours of nursing care will be funded from each of the registered nursing care contribution bands; [12343]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 18 October 2001, Official Report, column 1329W, on nursing care, if he will place in the Library a copy of the background papers concerning the testing of the registered nursing care contribution tool; [12416]
(4) pursuant to his answer of 18 October 2001,Official Report, column 1329W, on nursing care, (a) how many assessments had been completed by 31 October and (b) how many of these assessments were conducted face to face; [12415]
(5) pursuant to his answer of 18 October 2001,Official Report, column 1329W, on nursing care, how many nurses had completed the training in the use of the tool by 31 October; how many nurses have been designated to undertake assessments; and of these, how many were in post by 31 October. [12417]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 5 November 2001]I refer to the answers given to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 9 November 2001,Official Report, columns 478–79W.
Copies of an "Evaluation of the Registered Nurse Care Contribution for the Determination of Residents' Needs for Registered Nursing Care, When in Use in Nursing Homes" undertaken by the Gerontological Nursing Programme of the Royal College of Nursing have been placed in the Library.
The Department is commissioning an evaluation of the implementation of free nursing care.
§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the projected cost is of providing free nursing care for the elderly in England in the next three financial years. [15420]
§ Jacqui Smith£100 million was made available for free nursing care for adults over the age of 18 in nursing homes for the last six months of 2001–02. The full year costs for 2002–03 are currently being considered and allocations will be made early next year.