National Health Service (Hansard, 18 July 1988)

§ 3. Mr. Flynn
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what new proposals he has to improve the National Health Service in Wales in the light of the increasing average age of the population.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Grist)
We shall continue our successful programme of improving the National Health Service to provide the people of Wales generally with the best care possible from the record levels of resources that we are making available.

§ Mr. Flynn
Is the Minister aware that a twin crisis is approaching that will peak in 1991, when we shall see a 9 per cent. increase over 1986 in the numbers aged 65 years and over, combined with the lowest figure for those aged between 50 years and 65 years, who provide the majority of family and voluntary carers? Will the Minister promise that Welsh area health authorities will be adequately funded for that dual crisis? Will he give us, for a start, a 771 guarantee that every health authority area will be adequately funded to enable it to meet the nurses' pay award? Will he confirm, or deny, the figures that have been quoted for the shortfall in Wales?

§ Mr. Grist
In response to the hon. Gentleman's first point, I assure him that the funding of the Health Service will continue to be at the correct and proper level, as we have assured since we came to power. In response to the question about nurses' pay, we will have to wait and see precisely what demands are made when the regrading structure has been carried out.

§ Mr. Wigley
Is the Minister aware that the county with the projected greatest increase in the number of elderly people is Gynedd, not only because of a natural increase, but because of a movement of retired people into private homes who, as they get older, may well bring additional pressure on the hospitals? In the light of that, will the Minister ensure that any consideration of the future of the hospitals in Gwynedd, particularly in Portmadoc and Caernarfon, will be part of a coherent long-term strategy and not an ad hoc reaction to short-term cash shortages?

§ Mr. Grist
The hon. Gentleman will be aware that I cannot comment on the particular hospitals that he has named. However, the fact that Gwynedd has an aging population is appreciated and taken into consideration in the various formulae for health authorities. This of course rather begs the question that all of us here are likely to fall in the next century into the age groups that we are now discussing. We should bear that mind.

§ Mr. Foot
Leaving aside any invidious matters about age groups, will the Minister give an absolute assurance that the latest proposals put forward by the Gwent area health authority will be subject to genuine consultation with all the parties concerned, that the Welsh Office will listen carefully to all the representations and that if those representations point to the fact that there should be a very considerable increase in funding in Wales, the Welsh Office will carry that message back to the Government?

§ Mr. Grist
I guarantee that all consultations carried out by the Welsh Office are carried out in a genuine, full and open fashion.

§ Mr. Marlow
If a patient were to present himself to the Health Service in Wales with steam coming out of his ears, could my hon. Friend the Minister assure the House that there would be facilities for dealing with that complaint? Also, if anybody aspiring for a position of leadership in Wales or outside Wales were unable to control his temper, can my hon. Friend confirm that facilities exist where that person could get the necessary treatment?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I call Mr. Paul Murphy.