§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to ensure that older people entitled to receive free nursing care in a nursing home actually receive the payment due to them. [HL3452]
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathIn implementing NHS-funded nursing care, the National Health Service is ensuring that people's needs are properly assessed and that nursing homes receive an appropriate level of funding for their care by registered nurses. As a result, most people are experiencing reduced fees. Where this has not been the case, the Minister for Community Care announced a number of measures on 11 March. These were the issue of a national core contract for use by the NHS and nursing homes to ensure clarity on funding issues; a proposed amendment to Regulation 5 of the Care Home Regulations 2001 to require care homes to provide a breakdown of fees; and the National Care Standards Commission to ensure that the national minimum standards regarding contracts are enforced. Similarly, in Wales, the National Assembly Government will seek to ensure that the fee structures in care homes and lines of funding accountability are clearly defined.