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Mental health patients will come under the rules requiring social care services to reimburse hospitals for the costs of delayed discharges of older people, writes David Brown.

The rules will initially only cover patients in acute and general geriatric settings, but could be expanded to cover patients leaving community hospitals and intermediate care.

Housing services are likely to face similar penalties to social services and primary care services if they are responsible for a delayed discharge.

The plans, outlined in a department of health consultation document, are wider than those announced by the government earlier this year.

Reimbursements for the delayed discharge of older people is likely to be set at £120 a day in London and the South East, and £100 a day in the rest of the country. Independent dispute resolution panels will be set up by strategic health authorities.

Hospitals will be required to notify social services and primary care trusts as soon as it is apparent that a patient will require on-going care after discharge. A care discharge plan must then be prepared within three days.

The delay will be counted from the completion of the discharge plan or the day after the patient is ready for transfer, whichever is later.

Patients requiring time to make a decision about their future or to make practical arrangements will be required to move to suitable short-term accommodation.

'Implementing Reimbursement Around Discharge from Hospital' - www.doh.gov.uk/jointunit/delayeddischarge/consult.htm