§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has published to ensure that patients who have received specialist acute care are referred for aftercare to a hospital close to the patients' homes; and if he will make a statement. [155152]
§ Dr. LadymanIn January 2003, the "Department published a good practice guide; "Discharge from hospital: pathway, process and practice". This puts the patient and their carer at the heart of the process for discharge from acute hospital care to other forms of care. February 2003 guidance on reconfiguration, "Keeping the NHS Local", also emphasises the need to expand the range of local options available from providers across the whole health and social care system.