Clause 4 - Liability to make delayed discharge payments
Community Care (Delayed Discharge etc.) Bill
4:30 pm
Ms Patsy Calton (Cheadle, Liberal Democrat)
I, too, welcome you to the Chair, Mr. Conway.
In supporting the amendment, the Liberal Democrats are very concerned indeed about the effect that a minimum prescribed period of two days would have on joint working. Two days is perhaps a further indication that the Government do not understand the efforts that must be made in the discharge of some patients, given their complex circumstances. Consultation with carers, with the patient, with housing authorities, and with care homes were discussed earlier today. However, it is quite ridiculous for all those necessary consultations to take place in a two-day period.
The Liberal Democrats want to know if the Government are suggesting that a team consisting of social services, housing, and so on, should be standing by all the time in case they are needed. How big should that team be, and who should be in it? Are the Government suggesting that only one social services person could make the decisions for housing and the multitude of other matters, or will there be others?