HC Deb 24 January 1972 vol 829 cc352-3W
Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken on the recommendation of the report of the Scottish Health Services Council on services for the elderly with mental disorder.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

The recommendations have in general been welcomed by the bodies whom I consulted and I shall shortly be circulating the report to hospital and local authorities. I am also considering how the proportion of elderly patients in mental hospitals who could more appropriately be cared for elsewhere can be measured as this is important in the planning of hospital and community services.

Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities in Scotland to provide residential accommodation and day centres for elderly persons with mental infirmity.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

In October, 1970 I sent the report of a sub-committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee "Services for the Elderly with Mental Disorder" to all local authorities to consider. In November, 1971 I asked local authorities to draw up proposals for the development of all their social work services, including day centres for the elderly and residential accommodation for the elderly mentally infirm.

Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which local authorities in Scotland provide day-centre accommodation for elderly mentally infirm persons; and if he will give details of proposals he has had from local authorities for the building of such accommodation;

(2) how many local authorities in Scotland have built residential houses specifically designed for the accommodation of elderly mentally infirm persons; and if he will give details of any proposals he has had from local authorities for the building of such houses.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

So far as I know, no local authority has provided homes or day centres exclusively for elderly mentally infirm persons, but a number of them make use of facilities provided for the elderly in general. I have not received any proposals for homes or day centres exclusively for the mentally infirm, but I would expect local authorities to take account of this need in drawing up their proposals for the future development of their services.

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