§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the average number of reassessments each person who is in receipt of free nursing care will need before they die; [39170]
(2) what estimates have been made of the number of self-funders who will be eligible for free nursing care in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04 and (c) 2004–05; [39168]
(3) what assessment he has made of the benefit reductions to self-funders who are eligible for the top banding of free nursing care. [39169]
§ Jacqui SmithPeople in nursing homes receiving national health service funding towards their care by a registered nurse will not have any benefits that they were receiving reduced as a result, regardless of the band of care to which they are assigned.
1141WThe numbers would be expected to rise from around 42,000 in 2001 by some 500 to 600 per year over the next few years. However, this estimate does not take account of other factors, such as the preferences of older people and rising home ownership among older people, which may affect this.