§ 19. Mr. Holtasked the Minister of Health whether he has a record of the number of young chronic sick normally looked after at home in the area covered by the North-West Regional Hospital Board; and what recommendations he has made for the provision of separate accommodation for these persons for periods when, through sickness or absence of a relative, they cannot continue to be looked after at their own homes.
§ Mr. BraineThe answer to the first part is, "No"; hospital authorities have been recommended to arrange admission for short stay patients, but it is not always possible for this to be in separate accommodation.
§ Mr. HoltDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that it would be a good idea to try to get these figures, because they are probably quite extensive, and to make separate arrangements for their accommodation when they are in hospital instead of adopting the undesirable practice sometimes of putting them in the geriatric wards?
§ Mr. BraineWe are acutely aware of the problem. Fortunately, the numbers of young chronic sick are small. Because of this, hospitals in particular 890 areas face a difficulty in providing a special service to cater for them which does not involve distant separation from their friends and relatives. However, we have asked hospitals to overhaul their services to see what can be done in this regard.