HL Deb 07 November 1988 vol 501 cc473-5

2.43 p.m.

Baroness Dudley asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many hospices for terminally ill people, and especially for AIDS patients, are available in the United Kingdom; and how many hospices are planned for the future.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, we know of 120 hospices in the United Kingdom providing in-patient care for people with a terminal illness. Included in this number are the London Lighthouse and the Mildmay Mission Hospital, which provide residential care for people with AIDS only. A further 37 hospices have indicated a willingness to care for people with AIDS. At present there are some 25 hospice projects planning in-patient units for the terminally ill.

Baroness Dudley

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. Can he say how many hospices are run by charities and religious orders?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, there are 26 National Health Service hospices and I would assume, if my counting is correct, that there are therefore 94 independent hospices.

Baroness Macleod of Borve

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend how much in percentage terms are the Government putting into the funding of these hospices, bearing in mind that a great many of them are run by charities but that the area health authorities disburse the government money?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, in the case of hospices which receive funding from the area health authorities the level of financial support varies from nothing to 80 per cent. However, the average commitment is 27 per cent.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, does the noble Lord accept that 2,315 beds in 122 hospices are quite inadequate in view of the steady increase in the number of AIDS cases and deaths due to AIDS? Is he satisfied that some hospices receive no help at all from National Health Service funds? In view of the urgency of this matter will he ask his right honourable friend to take some initiative in this field?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, it is a fact that the modern hospice movement is only 20 years old. On the basis of how much it has grown in the past 20 years and assuming that the present rate of growth will continue, I hope that all of us in this House will be most happy to see the future expansion of a very valuable movement.

Lord Stallard

My Lords, I ask the noble Lord to accept my apologies as I did not hear his reply to the second part of the Question. Is he yet in a position to tell the House when he expects to have the reports called for under the AIDS (Control) Act 1987 which had to be produced before the end of 1988? Can he tell us when they will be available?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I am afraid that I cannot give the noble Lord an accurate date for that.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, will the noble Lord answer the question that I put to him? I asked him whether he was satisfied with the situation in which such a high proportion of hospices receive no financial assistance although many of them have asked for it. Will he raise this matter with his right honourable friend in order to give some sense of urgency to the provision of hospices, especially in view of the growing number of AIDS cases?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord is well aware of our Health Circular HC87/4, a copy of which is available in the Library of your Lordships' House.

Lord Stallard

My Lords, I am sorry to return to my point, but can the noble Lord find the information that I am seeking and perhaps write to me?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, if the noble Lord would like to ask me the question I shall answer it.

Lord Glenamara

My Lords, will the noble Lord pay tribute to the excellent work that is being done in hospices throughout the country and by the dedicated people all over Britain who are raising money for them? Does he not feel that it is sad, at a time when the Treasury has money oozing up through the floorboards, that they have to raise so much of their finance—and in some cases all their money—through charity?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, I am sure that all of your Lordships will remember the Autumn Statement last week. I should like to draw noble Lords' attention to the fact that we have recently announced a further £4.5 million for health authorities in England for this year to meet the additional costs incurred by hospices and other charitable hospitals.

Lord Stallard

My Lords, will the noble Lord allow me to repeat my question? Is he in a position or when does he expect to be in a position to tell the House when the reports that were called for under the AIDS (Control) Act 1987, which were due to be made available before the end of 1988, will be produced?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, in my earlier reply I said to the noble Lord that I was unable to give him a date at the present time.