HL Deb 03 December 1986 vol 482 cc818-9

2.52 p.m.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many occupational therapists and speech therapists were trained in 1986, and how many applicants there were.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, during 1985–86, 2,201 occupational therapy students and 1,320 speech therapy students were in training in the United Kingdom. A total of 2,571 applications were received for 784 first-year places for occupational therapy students. Information is not collected centrally on the number of applicants for the 370 speech therapy places.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Do the Government realise that the enormous shortage of occupational therapists and of speech therapists is preventing the rehabilitation of many disabled people? Are they aware of the vital importance of increasing the number of therapists?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her Question. The results of a survey conducted by the Association of Directors of the Social Services last year suggests that, for England and Wales, there was a shortfall of 13 per cent. against funded posts. This was due to the greater rate of expansion of posts compared with the increases in training places.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, does the Minister recognise that recent studies of hospital services show a 19 per cent. shortage in established places for occupational therapists? Is he also aware that recent reports of the National Association of Health Authorities suggest that by 1994 there will be a 70 per cent. shortfall of occupational therapists unless a major move forward is made in respect of new training places? Does the Minister not agree that that would be very serious?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the department is already proposing to expand the number of places in training. The department provided 10 extra bursaries to students entering training in September of this year, bringing the total number of centrally funded bursaries to 595 out of the available total of 650 within England and Wales. With the help of three of the Thames regions, we have commissioned the opening of a new school at Christ Church College, Canterbury, in September next year with an annual intake of 30 students.

Lord Taylor of Blackburn

My Lords, does the Minister feel that the low salary that is paid to such therapists is one of the reasons for such a great shortage?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, since 1983 the pay of occupational therapists has been determined on the advice of the Review Body for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors and the Professions Allied to Medicine. During this period salaries have increased by more than 28 per cent. Furthermore, this year, there have been three applicants for every available training place. In 1985, 19 per cent. of the student intake were aged 25 and over. Pay levels would therefore not appear to be unattractive to new recruits.

The Earl of Halsbury

My Lords, is the noble Lord, on behalf of the Government, giving close attention to the age distribution of therapists currently in practice since that will determine the form of retiring rate and the necessary recruitment rate if numbers are to be kept up?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I accept the words of the noble Earl.

Lord Auckland

My Lords, will my noble friend tell the House how recruitment is proceeding regionally? Can he say whether recruitment in Scotland and Wales has been as favourable as that in city areas?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I do not have the answer to my noble friend's question. I shall arrange to write to him.