§ 48. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health whether he will ask local health authorities, hospital boards, and health executive councils to prepare plans for the development of services for the care and treatment of old people, taking into account the experience of work done in Oxford, Sunderland, and elsewhere.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am satisfied that local authorities and hospital boards are fully alive to the need for continuing to develop these services, in collaboration with executive councils and local medical committees, on lines which the experience gained in the past 10 years has shown to be sound.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that certainly in the north-east of England and in the Newcastle area there is urgent need for the development of further services, and is it not now desirable for an actual lead to be given by the Ministry to encourage further work throughout the country on those lines?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI gave a lead in October, 1957, by the issue of circulars at that time to the local authorities and to the hospital authorities. It is, of course, open to all authorities in the application of the principles there recommended to have in mind the particular procedures carried on in Oxford and Sunderland.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman prepared to consider some special funds being made available for the further development of the experimental work that has been started?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI have not been asked by these authorities for a special allocation for that, but I will bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said.