Funding Of Long-Term Nursing Care (No. 2)

EDM number 877 in 1998-99, proposed by Paul Burstow on 23/07/1999.

That this House notes the Court of Appeal judgement in the case of R v North and East Devon Health Authority ex parte Pamela Coughlan, which states that were a person's primary need for accommodation is a health need, then the funding of their nursing care is the responsibility of the NHS; further notes that the Court of Appeal found that the eligibility criteria used by North and East Devon Health Authority were unlawful, and that the Government guidance has 'shortcomings' leading to confusion and misrepresentation by health authorities and local authorities; believes that swift action is now needed to clarify the situation for tens of thousands of vulnerable people in nursing homes who will be left worried and confused about the funding of their care; and urges the Secretary of State to issue new guidance at the earliest opportunity to clarify patients' rights to long-term nursing care funded by the NHS, and all health authorities to re-examine their eligibility criteria to see whether they are lawful in the light of this judgement.

This motion has been signed by a total of 43 MPs.