Clause 2 - Notice of patient's possible need
Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Bill
12:00 pm
Mr John Baron (Billericay, Conservative)
Having listened to the Minister, I am not convinced. Recently the number of delayed discharges, although still too high, has fallen as a result of closer partnerships between NHS bodies and local government. The Bill now threatens those closer partnerships. If the Minister wants to persist with the ludicrous system of fining, she should at least allow local authorities a real say in the major decisions that affect the transfer of patients. Local authorities should have a say about whether a patient is fit for discharge and what is the appropriate care package. Local authorities should have some say in changes to plans because the patient's circumstances have altered, rather than simply being consulted when it is being decided which services, if any, will be made available following discharge so that the patient can be safely discharged. The amendments would allow local authorities to be party to such decisions and would therefore go some way towards resolving the issues. Because these are key decisions affecting the welfare of the patient, it is right for both the NHS body and local government to agree about the best course of action; otherwise there will be little co-operation and partnership.
The fear that such provisions will increase the likelihood that partnership and co-operation will suffer is felt not only on the Opposition Benches, but has been expressed by such bodies as the Association of Directors of Social Services, the NHS Confederation and the Local Government Association. While recognising the good progress in teamwork and partnership in recent years, those bodies have stated that it would be a retrograde step if the current proposals undermined trust and led to the development of adversarial relationships rather than co-operation between the NHS and local government. Our amendments would go some way towards redressing the imbalance that the Bill creates. They would give local authorities a real say in some of the key decisions that affect the transfer of patients. Without the amendments, the NHS body would call all the shots, and that is unreasonable. Having heard from the Minister, I do not believe that the amendments have been adequately addressed, so I shall press the amendment to a Division.
Question put, That the amendment be made:—
The Committee divided: Ayes 7, Noes 9.