In particular, he did not clarify when aftercare ends. Nor could he say what level of service was appropriate for the council to provide - this still has to be assessed on an individual basis. Finally, the case did not consider whether patients who had been wrongly charged could reclaim the money they had spent, so this is still not clear. However, if you have been charged by mistake it seems logical that you should be able to get at least some of your money back. Implications Directors of social services are alarmed at the implications for their budgets.
Residential accommodation is expensive.
They have pointed out that discharged patients receive an allowance in their benefits to pay for their accommodation- and that it did not seem fair that councils should have to cover the cost. Mind believes that this is something for the Government to decide on. As a result of these concerns the councils concerned have recently appealed against this judgement. The Court of Appeal might interpret the law differently, so as to authorise charging once again. Their ruling is expected shortly.