§ 29. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the planned provision for geriatric patients in England and Wales for 1981; and how far this meets the need based on the latest population projection figures.
§ Sir K. JosephDetailed plans are not available as far ahead as 1981, but development plans now being made by boards for the provision of hospital geriatric services are generally based on the projected 1981 elderly population.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerWill my right hon. Friend agree that there is a growing need for community services to be expanded and for wider publicity for the success, in certain mental hospitals, of separating the old from the mentally ill, thereby enabling both of them to be better looked after?
§ Sir K. JosephI agree abundantly with both of my hon. Friend's points.
§ Mr. Greville JannerWhen planning for the future of the geriatric services, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the needs of the domiciliary services, which enable more elderly people to be looked after and treated properly in their own homes so that they do not then have to be sent off to inadequate hospitals, as happens now?
§ Sir K. JosephIt is because the Government agree so strongly with this that we have provided differentially large increases in the domiciliary services, and we are concentrating all the time on improving these as well as hospitals.