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Cross-border arrangements for England and Wales
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Last modified date:8 February 2007
Where discharge arrangements involve one partner from England and one from Wales, the provisions of Part 1of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges, etc.) Act 2003 do not apply as the relevant provisions have not been commenced in Wales and there are currently no plans for commencement. In the event that Part 1 applies to Wales at some point in the future, the Act provides for there to be joint secretary of state /assembly regulations which set out the charging arrangements.
Nevertheless partners are expected to adhere to the principles of safe and effective hospital discharge, including early and accurate communication between partners about patients' needs for assessment and services or changes in patient circumstances, and to act at all times to minimise unnecessary delays to a patient's transfer from an acute care environment to a more appropriate care setting once they are ready to move on.
Similar principles apply to cross-border arrangements with Scotland and Northern Ireland, which are not covered by the provisions of the Act.
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