HL Deb 24 July 2001 vol 626 cc1837-40

11.27 a.m.

The Lord Bishop of Rochester asked Her Majesty's Government:

In the light of their commitment to the provision of spiritual care in the National Health Service, what arrangements are there for the provision of such care in privately run residential institutions for people who are mentally ill or have learning difficulties.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

My Lords, an essential principle of care homes has always been residents' rights of choice, including in matters of religion. The new national minimum standards will make residents' right to exercise choice more explicit. The draft care homes regulations include a requirement that, so far as is practicable, residents should have the opportunity to attend the religious services of their choice.

The Lord Bishop of Rochester

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Is it possible for the health service or local authorities to write a requirement for the provision of spiritual care into the contracts of the private companies that provide the care?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, the right reverend Prelate raises an interesting point. I shall be glad to arrange discussions between the department and the Church authorities on the matter. My understanding is that access to spiritual care will come about because of the standards laid down by the National Care Standards Commission; the commission will then be able to monitor those standards. What is not in doubt is that we share the right reverend Prelate's concern to make sure that spiritual guidance and activities are available to such residents.

Lord Astor of Hever

My Lords, in view of the loss of 11,000 care beds last year, with all the human tragedy that that causes, does the Minister agree that it is especially important that the mentally ill and those with learning difficulties receive spiritual care?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I have already said that spiritual care is important for those residents who desire it. I also accept that, as in the National Health Service, residents in care homes and nursing homes should be provided with spiritual care when they so desire. As regards the loss of care places, presently there remains a surplus of places over demand.

Lord Patel of Blackburn

My Lords, when we have a commitment as regards the provision of spiritual care, does my noble friend the Minister agree that it must also cover all other faiths?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

Yes, my Lords. I agree with my noble friend. The National Care Standards Commission will ensure that the needs and preferences of specific minority ethnic communities, and of social and cultural or religious groups, will be catered for, understood and met.

Baroness Barker

My Lords, given the Minister's replies, can he say what efforts the Government will be making to ensure that care staff are trained to recognise and meet the spiritual needs of people in residential homes?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, much needs to be done in relation to the workforce in the care sector. Discussions are taking place between the relevant organisations, including representatives of home owners, local authorities and the Department of Health, to ensure that we do provide an infrastructure that enables the appropriate training to be given. I should also point out to the noble Baroness that, because spiritual care will be one measure by which individual homes will be judged by the National Care Standards Commission, the dialogue that will ensue from that process will also encourage the training of staff to recognise and provide the needs to which she referred.

Baroness Knight of Collingtree

My Lords, perhaps I may invite the Minister to pay tribute to the hundreds, if not thousands, of such homes run by nuns and Roman Catholics. Is he aware that the standard of care is of quite rare and wonderful quality, as regards both loving care and spiritual care? Is the Minister also aware of a home called the Little Sisters of the Poor at Harborne in Edgbaston in my old constituency, which he knew well? Therefore, will the noble Lord pay tribute to the wonderful spiritual care that these people provide?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, I am very happy to do so. I should also point out that there are other faiths in the city of Birmingham that provide such care. I have in mind, for example, the Jewish care homes run by Andrew Cohen House, which provide extremely excellent services. The whole purpose of the National Care Standards Commission is to try to ensure that the excellence that we find in many homes is spread throughout the sector. We also owe a debt to chaplains in our NHS hospitals, who carry out a magnificent job. We are very glad to support that effort.

Lord Clement-Jones

My Lords, can the Minister tell the House what lessons he draws from the recent report from the Sainsbury's Centre for Mental Health entitled, Forward in Faith, which put forward a number of very interesting ideas—in particular, the suggestion that there should be an initial spiritual care assessment at the beginning for mental health service users?

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

My Lords, we shall of course consider those recommendations, as we would consider any recommendations coming from the Sainsbury's Centre for Mental Health. I certainly believe that a balance has to be struck here: on the one hand, one needs to ensure that residents are given every opportunity to receive spiritual support when they require it; but, on the other hand, one wishes to ensure that it is an option for which people volunteer, rather than having this forced upon them. As long as we can maintain that balance, we should be most interested in considering the matter further.