§ 30. Dr. John Dunwoodyasked the Minister of Health what plans there are to develop further the geriatric services.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI have asked hospital boards to make an early provision in their programmes for the expansion of their geriatric services.
§ Dr. DunwoodyWould my right hon. Friend go further and try to encourage a much greater degree of co-ordination between hospital services, general practitioner services and local authority services with the intention of maintaining many more old folk in their own homes rather than in institutions and hospitals?
§ Mr. RobinsonYes, I have on several occasions urged on all authorities in the Service the desirability of co-ordinated planning of joint operations for these services. I agree with what my hon. Friend has said.
§ Mr. PavittIn view of the need to pursue this line of co-ordination, would my right hon. Friend seek to have in various areas an experiment in a changed structure of co-ordination between the three wings of the Service to deal with old people?
§ Mr. RobinsonIn so far as this is possible under the present statutory structure, I think that my hon. Friend will find that this is already taking place in certain areas.
§ Mrs. KnightWill the Minister take steps to ensure that local authorities have more money to spend on domiciliary services, because these are of vital importance in keping old people happy?
§ Mr. RobinsonThe hon. Lady knows that the provision of local services is a matter for local authorities. They must decide their priorities as between the 924 various headings of expenditure which they incur.
§ Mr. RidsdaleIs the Minister aware how disappointed we are in North-East Essex that he has not been able to help us with day hospitals?
§ Mr. RobinsonIf the hon. Gentleman has a Question about his constituency or area, I should be obliged if he would table it.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I called the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale) for the next Question, but he got a supplementary through on this one.