Clause 1 - Meaning of ''NHS body'' and ''qualifying hospital patient''
Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill
11:00 am
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford, Conservative)
The amendments are probing in nature and concern those people who are ''expected to receive'' care. I should be grateful for further information from the Minister. The clause defines an ''NHS body'' and a ''qualifying hospital patient'', and, with reference to the latter, states that it is someone
''who is receiving (or who has received or is expected to receive) care''.
I fully understand, and find unambiguous, the references to someone who ''is receiving'' or who ''has received'' care. However, I experience a degree of confusion about someone who ''is expected'' to receive it. The expression has a logical meaning in English, but what is meant in the context of the Bill? How do you know whether you are expected to receive care? Does that expectation arise because you have a medical complaint that may develop?