§ 1. Mr. George Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his plans for increasing accommodation for mentally subnormal patients needing hospital care; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. David Gibson-Watt)My right hon. and learned Friend's aim is the continued improvement of hospital and local authority services for the mentally handicapped. The Welsh Hospital Board is responsible for detailed provision and planning of the hospital services and it would, I am sure, give the right hon. Gentleman the information he needs.
§ Mr. George ThomasIs the Minister aware that this is one of his most grievous problems, and that anything he can do to increase the accommodation will have the full support of my right hon. and hon. Friends?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman, with his past experience of this difficult problem, and I am very happy with what he said.
§ Mr. Alec JonesWhen drawing up plans of this nature—no one will doubt the wisdom or necessity of such plans—will the Minister take into account the need to make provision for short-term care; that is, for those people who are kept at home but who need temporary accommodation to relieve the stress on their families?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattThe hon. Gentleman has a point there. It is a difficult question. In the past, some hospitals have admitted people and have been unable to discharge them even when they were fit enough to leave, and one of the problems is that, as a result, hospitals have in some cases become grossly overcrowded.