HL Deb 19 November 1987 vol 490 cc287-9

3.8 p.m.

The Countess of Mar

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 what are the criteria for determining the number of children in need of special provision by each regional health authority.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Skelmersdale)

My Lords, mentally and physically disabled children are one of the Government's priority groups as set out in Care in Action. It is, however, for individual health authorities to determine the level of services provided, taking into account available resources and local needs and circumstances.

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that Answer. Is he aware that there are huge disparities over the country between different area health authorities? is he satisfied, in view of the fact that this is a priority area for the Government, with the provision in different areas?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, thanks to the warning given me by the noble Countess, I have investigated this matter. I have been advised that resources for children with special health needs are not at issue in any region of the country.

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, I am sorry to intervene again. Is the Minister aware that there are no beds for respite care in Worcester area health authority, for example?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, yes; that is as I have been advised. But that does not necessarily mean that there is need for those beds within a health authority. Many of those matters, as the noble Countess will know well, are decided on a regional basis.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, can the Minister explain why the Government feel that they do not have any responsibility to suggest target figures? is that not part of their responsibility in providing a National Health Service? Is it not true that there is a very great deal of variation between different regions in the service they provide for the group of disadvantaged children about whom we are talking?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, knows better than anyone that the regional planning system covers all the activities in a region. Those are reviewed annually both by officials and Ministers. I can advise the House that we are currently devising ways to help health authorities to improve their monitoring, which is one of the problems.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some of the hospitals in the centres of our larger cities, to which people are brought from the outer areas for specialised treatment, continually claim that they are underfunded and cannot carry out such a function? My colleague the noble Lord, Lord Stallard, referred last week to the Manchester Eye Hospital. Will the Minister look into this situation? We believe that such underfunding is grossly unfair.

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, with the greatest respect, the Question on the Order Paper is addressed not to acute services but to the requirements of children with special needs. If the noble Lord would like to address a Question to the Government generally on the point that he makes, I or one of my noble friends would be delighted to answer it.

Baroness Masham of Ilton

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the therapy professionals, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech therapists, are very important in this group and that there is a shortage of these important people in many health authorities? Will he do as much as possible to encourage them to stay in the health service?

Lord Skelmersdale

Yes, my Lords; indeed all the therapies that the noble Baroness mentions are extremely important to children with special needs. The Government are encouraging authorities to raise their recruitment of these specialists. I am advised that that campaign is going well.

Lady Kinloss

My Lords, can the Minister tell me how many children with mental handicap there are in the different authorities, and whether he is satisfied with the provision for them now and in the long term?

Lord Skelmersdale

My Lords, that is a little general at this moment; but I can advise the House that there are no children with mental handicap in hospital in either Somerset or Worcester.

The Countess of Mar

My Lords, will the noble Lord look again at the situation within the Worcester Area Health Authority? I have had a number of parents asking me to raise this matter in the House. They are very concerned that there are no places for respite care. Perhaps the area health authority could be asked to reach parents of children in mentally handicapped groups.

Lord Skelmersdale

Yes, my Lords. I shall certainly take on board the point that the noble Countess has just made.