§ 4. Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement concerning the provision of out-patient care for those suffering from mental illness or disability.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Mr. Roland Moyle)There has been an overall increase in attendances by mentally ill and mentally handicapped people both at ordinary out-patient clinics and for care at day hospitals. The Government have given and are continuing to give high priority to the development of services for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people and to the change of emphasis from institutional to community care.
§ Mr. ViggersDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that since the publication of the White Paper in October 1975 on the treatment of the mentally ill, progress can only be described as disappointing? Should it not be the highest priority for the incoming Government in dealing with the social services to divert more resources, and indeed to earn them, for the provision of more hostels for those 1150 who are well enough not to remain in hospital any longer but who are not yet well enough to return to their families?
§ Mr. MoyleThe precept set out by the hon. Gentleman will be accepted by the Labour Government, but I am sure that it will not be accepted by the Conservative Party, whose members have pledged themselves to cut public expenditure across the board. However, progress in the last couple of years has been reasonable. There has been a 15 per cent. increase in day places for mentally ill adults in NHS hospitals. There has been a decrease in the number of resident inpatients at mental hospitals, brought about because we are switching emphasis to community care. Furthermore, the number of consultants and nurses has risen, and the large mental hospitals have now obtained the minimum standard of one nurse to three patients set in 1972. The picture is good on all sides of the operation, except in respect of local authority day centre places.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceCould not this change from institutional to community care carry on at a greater pace and be more beneficial to the nation? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the kind of crisis intervention centre set up in the Minister's constituency, which serves a great part of my constituency, could be a model of what we need to develop in this service? Will there not be a tremendous risk if the public expenditure cuts promised by the Tory Front Bench are actually implemented?
§ Mr. MoyleI agree entirely with my hon. Friend. We are aiming at an increase of 9 per cent. per annum on health and personal social services in this respect, and a cut in public expenditure would have a most drastic effect.
§ Mrs. KnightMay I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the Conservative Party has given a firm commitment not to cut expenditure on health and social services? [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] May I also ask whether he has had an opportunity to examine some of the local authority schemes which provide hostel and in-family environment care for the mentally disabled which are almost entirely self-supporting, such as those operating in some parts of the Midlands?
§ Mr. MoyleThe hon. Lady is a brilliant mathematician if she believes that she can at one and the same time cut public expenditure and increase provision. I shall examine her suggestion. I am now looking at the Birmingham social services department to see whether we should have a public inquiry into it.