Written question asked by Simon Hughes (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 9 March 1999, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 16 March 1999. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Tuesday, 16 March 1999 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the levels of abuse of elderly people in care; if he will publish this assessment; and if he will make a statement. - Includes fact that the Department does not keep data on incidents of abuse in adult care homes. (Holding answer 15 March 1999).

Answer: Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of abuse of elderly people in care; if he will publish this assessment; and if he will make a statement. [76484] Mr. Hutton: [holding answer 15 March 1999]: The Department does not keep data on incidents of abuse in adult care homes. However, the Department has provided funding to Action on Elder Abuse for its national helpline service. Furthermore we are funding an analysis of the first one thousand calls which that helpline has received. National guidelines for dealing with incidents of abuse to vulnerable adults are currently being developed, and this work is financed and led by the Department.

Secondary information