§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answer of 8 May 2003,Official Report, column 867W, on continuing care funding, from how many strategic health authorities further clarification has been requested; and what the reasons are for not publishing the information received from SHAs about their continuing care policies; [115569]
(2) what the procedure is for estimating the numbers of people who may have been wrongly denied continuing care; which organisations were consulted when drawing up the procedure; and if he will place a copy of the procedure in the Library; [115568]
(3) pursuant to his Answer of 21 May 2003, Official Report, column 852W, on continuing care, whether the formula he is using to estimate the number of people who were refused continuing care uses local information about the nursing home population. [116859]
§ Jacqui SmithStrategic health authorities (SHAs) have estimated the number of people who may have been wrongly denied full national health service funding for continuing care based on local information. The Department in discussion with SHAs suggested a number of factors which could be taken into account, including the local nursing home population. There is no intention to publish the procedure for estimating the number. Further clarification has been requested from all SHAs. The Department of Health does not routinely publish details of estimated costs of a specific service.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 21 May 2003,Official Report, column 852W, on continuing care, what additional information was required from strategic health authorities following the deadline for reviewing existing continuing care criteria; and if he will make a statement. [116860]
§ Jacqui SmithWe have asked strategic health authorities for evidence of their legal advice taken when agreeing new continuing care criteria.