§ Sandra GidleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of the Community Care (Delayed Discharge) Act 2003 with regard to changes in(a) re-admission levels and (b) mortality levels since the Act was enacted. [177675]
§ Dr. LadymanNo change in readmission levels or mortality levels, which could be considered a direct result of the reduction in delayed discharges, has been noted since October 2003. Furthermore, the available data shows no link between the level of delayed discharges and the late of readmission. However, there is a need to look at these, and a range of other potential impacts of the policy, in more detail and the Department will therefore be advertising shortly to commission an independent evaluation of the effects of the policy.