London - The British government was yesterday spared extra National Health Service bills in long-term health care estimated at hundreds of millions of pounds a year which could have "bankrupted the NHS".
The threat was lifted when the Court of Appeal ruled that long-term health care was not solely the responsibility of the National Health Service which provides all services free.
Three Appeal Court judges ruled that health authorities can shift the responsibility for people needing non-specialist care to social services, which can means-test patients who would then have to contribute to their care.