HC Deb 21 May 2002 vol 386 cc305-6W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the closure of long-stay beds for dementia patients. [56582]

Jacqui Smith

The national service framework for older people, published in March 2001, sets out the Government's strategy to ensure fair, high quality integrated health and social care services for older people. This covers services for people with dementia. An adequate supply of long-term care beds needs to be available for those people with dementia for whom this is the appropriate form of care.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on(a) the NHS long-stay provision for severely demented patients in North Hertfordshire and (b) the closure of beds at Elizabeth Court and Victoria Court; [56580]

(2) what his assessment is of the effect on delayed discharges at the Lister Hospital Stevenage of the closure of NHS long-stay beds for patients with dementia at Elizabeth Court and Victoria Court. [56581]

Yvette Cooper

Hertfordshire County Council are in discussion with local primary care trusts and Bedfordshire and Luton Community National Health Service Trust on their proposals for the long term care of patients suffering with dementia.