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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he had issued on the respective responsibilities of the national health service and local authority social service departments for the care of people (a) resident in a care home and (b) in their own home, who suffer from a chronic condition. [202134] Dr. Ladyman: In September 2001, the Department issued guidance, [HSC 2001/17:LAC(2001)26] outlining the arrangements for the introduction of national health service-funded nursing care for all care home residents from 1 October 2001. This transferred the responsibility to the NHS for funding the nursing care of those care home residents paying the full costs of their care from a registered nurse and ensured parity with others who were already receiving NHS-funded nursing care in their own homes or in residential accommodation through NHS community nursing services. Further guidance, issued in March 2003--HSC 2003/ 006: LAC(2003)7--outlined the arrangements for implementing NHS funded nursing care for all care home residents from 1 April 2003. Through domiciliary care services, local authorities provide personal care and support to adults and older people in their own homes. In 2002 and 2003, the Department issued guidance on fair access to care services. This guidance provides councils with a framework for setting their eligibility criteria for adult social care. The personal care needs of residents of care homes and those living at home are the responsibility of the individual or the local council. Services are provided based on an assessment of need and local authorities have a discretionary power to charge for these services. The Department issued guidance--"Fairer Charging for Home Care and other non-residential Social Services"--to all local councils in November 2001, which seeks to ensure that, where councils do charge, this will be based on fairer, well designed charging policies.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

202134; 428 c1070W;428 c1070-1W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Care homes Chronic illnesses Health services Home care services Social services

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk