§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities are seeking legal advice regarding the health service ombudsman report on continuing care; and what estimate his Department has made of the number of people that may have been forced to sell their homes to pay for care. [113413]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 15 May 2003]: All strategic health authorities have been advised to take legal advice when drawing up new criteria for continuing care.
The Department has made no estimate of the number of people who may have sold their homes following a decision that the national health service would not fully finance continuing care.