Clause 4 - Liability to make delayed discharge payments
Community Care (Delayed Discharge etc.) Bill
5:30 pm
Mr Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre, Labour)
I think that I have explained—in no sense are these fines; they are charges that are levied on local authorities for the care of people who are inappropriately placed in the acute health sector. If the local authority does not pick up the bill, for which it is responsible, the acute sector of the national health service will be obliged to pay for a place that is urgently needed by somebody in acute medical need. There are no grounds for the series of amendments and the Opposition should withdraw them.