HC Deb 19 November 2001 vol 375 cc129-30W
Mr. Rosindell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the closure of residential care homes in Havering. [14802]

Jacqui Smith

I understand that Havering council is undertaking a review of its own care homes in order to ensure that they are able to meet future needs and standards. As a result of this review, one council home closed recently and another is in the process of doing so. The council plans to establish four new resource centres that are capable of meeting care needs in a holistic manner. There have been no recent independent home closures in Havering.

People in Havering will benefit from a number of recent Government initiatives designed to improve the commissioning and delivery of care services. The agreement with local government, the national health service and independent sector providers of care—Building Capacity and Partnership—will help to bring stability to the care home sector. In addition, Havering council is being targeted for extra help and will this year receive £550,000 of the £300 million we are allocating to councils over the next two years to tackle the problem of delayed discharge from hospital.