Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase the role of patients in decision making around care home placements.

The Health and Care Act 2022 contains a duty for National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts to involve both patients and carers, including young carers, at the earliest opportunity in discharge planning for adult patients who are likely to need care and support after their hospital discharge, where they consider it appropriate to do so.

The statutory discharge guidance sets out how local areas can plan and implement hospital discharge services that cater to individual patients’ needs. This is aimed at senior leaders in NHS commissioning bodies, local authorities, and relevant sectors such as care providers.