Oral Answers to Questions

Sheila Gilmore Excerpts

Tuesday 7th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is considering in relation to Southern Cross Healthcare; and if he will make a statement.

[Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East) (Lab)]

8. What steps he is considering in relation to Southern Cross Healthcare; and if he will make a statement.

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow)]

Southern Cross has plans in place to restructure its business and is keeping the Government updated on progress. We will continue to keep in close touch with the situation and work with local authorities, the Care Quality Commission and others to ensure that there is an effective response which delivers to everyone the protection that we should want for all in those residential homes.

--- Later in debate ---

[Paul Burstow]

The Government continue to maintain very close contact with the devolved Administrations on those issues to ensure that we co-ordinate in that way, and the hon. Gentleman is right that we need to make sure that the standards of care provided in all those homes are maintained. That is a role that the CQC has been discharging and will continue to discharge.

[Sheila Gilmore]

Housing associations have regulatory control over financial management and viability in order to protect tenants’ homes. Will the Minister consider putting in place a similar regime to protect the homes of care home residents?

[Paul Burstow]

Within the current legal framework established in the Health and Social Care Act 2008, there are requirements on financial viability, but we will undoubtedly want to look at those issues when we come to publish a White Paper on social care reform later this year.