PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
COSTS OF CHILDREN IN HOSPITAL (14 February 2002)

That this House notes the publication of the Department of Health's response to the Report of the Public Inquiry into children's heart surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary; further notes the Report's recommendations 142 and 182 which advocated that the requirements of quality of care and safety of patients should prevail over considerations of ease of access; shares the Inquiry Report's view that the NHS should therefore assist patients with the costs arising from specialist care at substantial distances from home; recognises that the Hospital Travel Costs scheme is limited to travel costs for treatment for low-income families only; welcomes the 'Contact a Family' campaign to extend the Hospital Travel Costs scheme to visits; and urges the Government to bring forward urgently its review of options to assist families in meeting the costs of visiting and supporting a child in hospital.

Sponsored by:
Lord Lansley (Conservative)