HC Deb 12 March 2002 vol 381 cc1060-1W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2001,Official Report, column 159W, how many individuals (i) of pensionable age and (ii) 75 years or older in each year since 1 May 1997 to the latest available date have been living in (a) residential care homes and (b) residential nursing care homes; and in each category how many were (i) self-funding the fees, (ii) partially funding the fees and (iii) being funded wholly by the state in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. [11945]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 2 November 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

The information available centrally for people aged 65 and over in England is in the table. The number of people who are resident in residential care homes and paying for their own care is not collected centrally. A survey conducted in June 2001 estimated the number of people in nursing homes who were paying wholly for their own care, but no information was collected on age.

Number of places/registered beds in residential and nursing homes for older people (aged 65 and over)1 with Local Authority Supported residents in these homes, 1997 to 2001, England
Rounded numbers
As at 31 March 19972 1998 1999 2000 2001
Number of places in residential care homes3 261,600 268,600 265,100 263,400 260,100
Number of LA supported residents in residential care homes4 129,400 135,300 137,800 140,100 138,100
Number of registered beds in nursing homes5 154,200 160,000 153,500 149,600 142,500
Number of LA supported residents in nursing homes 60,800 67,500 67,500 67,600 65,500
1 Includes older people who are mentally infirm.
2 Refers to the period 1 October 1996 to 31 March 1997 for number of registered beds in nursing homes
3 Residential places in local authority staffed, voluntary, private, small (homes with less than four places) and dual registered homes
4 Local authority supported residents in local authority staffed and independent residential care homes. A local authority supported resident is a resident whose fees are paid in part or in full by the local authority. This does not include the number of people who are supported by the NHS or the Department for Work and Pensions.
5 General and mental nursing homes including private hospitals and clinics.

Source: Department of Health returns.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with representatives of the private residential care homes since April 2001. [24341]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 8 January 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

I have met with: Coalition on Charging on 4 September 2001; Rescare on 26 September 2001; and numerous individual care home owners.

The Under-Secretary, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath met with Lord Haskel and Rosalind Preston, Chair of the Residential Nursing Home for the Jewish Community on Monday 30 April 2001.

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