Part of Community Care (Delayed Discharge etc.) Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 5:30 pm on 10 December 2002.
The Minister correctly said that it could not be right for patients to remain indefinitely in hospital seeking to exercise choice, but am I right to assume that they will be able to stay in hospital for a short time? If the answer is yes, presumably, the NHS will pay the costs of them remaining in hospital, which turns on its head the question asked by the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre.