§ 4. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expansion is envisaged of rehabilitation services in the National Health Service.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Dr. David Owen)It is for individual health authorities to decide on the development of these services in their areas, within the limits of the resources available to them. But they are aware of the importance which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State attaches to such development. Substantial amounts of central departmental funds have been provided to establish 19 demonstration centres in medical rehabilitation to demonstrate good practice.
§ Mr. Carter-JonesDoes my hon. Friend realise that there is an adverse distribution of these experimental centres from the point of view of services in the North? Does he agree that more central funds should be made available to allow families to participate in rehabilitation and therefore relieve the pressure on the health service? Will he look again at the general situation of severely disabled children who are denied rehabilitation and educational opportunities because of the delays in providing equipment?
§ Dr. OwenI am prepared to consider whether the Northern Region has a fair allocation of such centres. I shall ask the regional health authorities. I know that in the North-West particularly—but in other areas, too—the authorities have investigated this matter. The use of families is a most important aspect of 205 reinforcing rehabilitation, and the family is one of the most readily accessible of all the volunteer forces in the country.