Care in the Community: Griffiths Report (Hansard, 20 April 1988)

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, we are giving careful consideration to Sir Roy's recommendations and will bring forward our own proposals in the light both of further work now under way and also of reactions to Sir Roy's report.

§ Lady Saltoun of Abernethy
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that Answer. Can he indicate how long the Government will take to consider the Griffiths Report? Can he also indicate whether the Government will give this House a chance to debate it in the near future?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, as regards the chance of debating Sir Roy's report, it will be for recourse through the normal channels. It is as yet too soon to say when the Government will bring forward their proposals. The work must not and will not be rushed if we are to arrive at the right solutions in this vital area.

§ Lord Renton
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that mentally handicapped people of all ages are still in long-stay hospitals and, in many cases, they have been there all their lives? Will the Government bear in mind that it was decided as long ago as 1981 that help should be given to voluntary societies in order that some of those people should receive care in the community?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, the Government are aware of my noble friend's point. Furthermore, they will be looking closely at the implications of Sir Roy's approach for individual client groups such as mentally ill people as part of their consideration of the issues raised by the report.

§ Baroness Seear
My Lords, will the noble Earl accept that this matter is of the greatest urgency? I speak as the chairman of the National Council for Carers. The effect of removing people from institutions and dealing with those still inside is putting a heavy burden on people who are finding it difficult to handle such burdens. We cannot delay 1502 putting the new arrangements into effect as soon as possible.

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, we are fully aware of the importance of Sir Roy's report and the necessity to bring forward our proposals. I have explained how we intend to do that and I take particular note of the comments of the noble Baroness.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, speaking not only from this Bench but also as chairman of the National Association for Mental Health, I should like to associate myself with the view that this is an extremely important report on a crucially important issue. If the Government have not yet made up their mind, may it not be that their mind will be more clearly made up as a result of a debate in your Lordships' House? Will the noble Earl press his colleagues to ensure that time is given for a debate on this important subject?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, as I have said, if a debate is required to be initiated in your Lordships' House it must be done through the normal channels.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is not the noble Earl aware that the great medical professions have subjected the report to close scrutiny and would it not be sensible to collect their views before a final decision is made?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, at the moment the Government are happy to receive any views or comments upon Sir Roy's report.

Lord Winstanley
My Lords, in order to underline the importance of this issue, is the noble Earl aware that I have been in touch with the department about two tragic cases? One is that of a young man who committed suicide on the eve of his discharge from hospital because he was so frightened by the prospect before him. The other case is that of a social worker who was murdered by a patient who had been discharged into the community under the scheme. Not having had the Griffiths Report before we started the hospital closures, may I ask whether further closures can be halted until the recommendations of Sir Roy and others are enforced?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, I am not aware that the noble Lord has been in touch with the department in respect of this matter. I take serious note of the two instances that he raised and I shall ensure that they are reported to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.

§ The Countess of Mar
My Lords, will the noble Earl agree that there is an acute shortage of skilled but non-professional workers in community care? Is he aware of a pilot project at Evesham College of Further Education which, under my chairmanship, provides training under the National Council for Vocational Qualifications for those who wish to undertake community care seriously?

§ The Earl of Arran
My Lords, with respect to the noble Countess, I think that is somewhat wide of the Question on the Order Paper.