§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from health care 1419W providers on the use of intermediate care money to (a) reopen previously closed wards and (b) rebrand existing care beds as intermediate care beds. [57183]
§ Jacqui SmithI am not aware of any representations.
Some of the growth in intermediate care beds has been achieved by bringing dormant capacity back into use—in some cases by reopening closed wards—or by changing the service provided within care homes. Using spare capacity in this way ensures that services are provided to meet people's needs, and to avoid unnecessary admission to, or inappropriately to delay transfer from, acute beds.