§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he is taking to rehabilitate patients at present in care within hospitals for the mentally handicapped but who in fact are suffering from deafness and have average intelligence.
§ Sir George YoungI have seen the press reports about elderly patients in mental handicap hospitals whose main problem may be deafness. The Department is considering a proposal for research on this. The problem of the mentally handicapped with multiple handicap is also one of the items which, as my right hon. Friend announced in his speech to the MENCAP conference on 10 December a copy of which is in the Library is to be further studied by the Department as a result of the recent review of580W mental handicap services. In the light of all the information currently available, it is for the health authorities concerned to consider the position of deaf people in their hospitals for the mentally handicapped and to take any appropriate action.