§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage providers of residential care for the elderly to connect up their homes to the internet. [35071]
§ Jacqui SmithThe national standards for care homes for older people require care homes to give residents the opportunity to exercise choice in relation to leisure and social activities and cultural interests. They also require care homes to record residents' interests and give them the opportunity for stimulation through leisure and recreational activities, in and outside the care home, which suit their needs, preferences and capacities, with particular consideration for people with cognitive or sensory impairments and those with physical or learning disabilities. This could include access to the internet. However, it is for individual care home owners to decide whether they wish their care home to be linked to the
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§ Ms BlearsCash allocations to national health service acute trusts in the Department's northern and Yorkshire region under the reforming emergency care accident and emergency nurse allocation for 2001–02 are detailed in the table. All trusts received funding for a minimum of two additional nurse posts for each accident and emergency department. The table also indicates those trusts that are involved in PFI programmes.
internet taking into account the individual circumstances of their business and the needs and capacities of the residents.