§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of people who may have been obliged to sell their homes to pay for care, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; [99375]
(2) how families of deceased relatives will be informed that they may be entitled to appeal against the selling of the family home to pay for NHS care, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term-care; and if he will make a statement; [99384]
(3) what plans he has to compensate people obliged to sell their homes to pay for care for (a) emotional distress and (b) loss of value of the home; and if he will make a statement; [99385]
(4) what steps his Department is taking to ensure cases of the sale of homes to pay for care since 1996 will be investigated, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; and if he will make a statement; [99376]
(5) what the timescales are for the assessment of the unlawful selling of homes to pay for care for (a) strategic health authorities, (b) primary care trusts and (c) social services departments, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; and if he will make a statement. [99386]
§ Jacqui SmithMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has welcomed the Ombudsman's report on national health service funding for long-term care. As part of the initial response, the Department has asked strategic health authorities to estimate by 28 March the number of people who may have been wrongly assessed under criteria not consistent with the Coughlan judgment.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long term care; and if he will make a statement; [99387]
(2) what assessment he has made of the compatibility with R v North and East Devon Health Authority ex parte Pamela Coughlan of the guidance (a) HSC 2001/015 and (b) HSC 1999/180, following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long-term care; and if he will make a statement; [99382]
(3) when he will publish new guidance following the report by the Health Service Ombudsman on NHS funding for long-term care. [99374]
§ Jacqui SmithMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, welcomes the Ombudsman's report on national health service funding for long term care. The Department has already asked strategic health authorities to review criteria in use since 1996 and estimate the number of people who may have been wrongly assessed under criteria not consistent with the Coughlan judgment by 28 March.
989WThe Department is satisfied that the guidance issued in 1999 and 2001 was compatible with the Coughlan judgment.
The Department will consider the recommendation to review national guidance on continuing care carefully and respond in due course.