Health: Hospital-acquired Infection

Baroness Howarth of Breckland Excerpts

Tuesday 7th June 2011 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, yes, and that is now a requirement on all NHS trusts.

[Baroness Howarth of Breckland]

Does the Minister agree that the length of stay that a patient has increases the risk, particularly among elderly patients? Can he tell me how many elderly patients are now staying in hospital for greater lengths of time because they are not being discharged into appropriate local authority provision?

[Earl Howe]

The noble Baroness is quite right that delayed discharge poses a risk, not only in terms of infection but in terms of mobility and other issues that affect the elderly. We are clear that if this problem is to be eased, further funding is required at local authority level, which is why we have made available up to £1 billion over the period of the spending review to ensure that the issue is addressed.