HC Deb 10 December 1986 vol 107 cc209-10W
Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the level of provision of speech therapists;

(2) what plans he has to increase the number of practising speech therapists.

Mr. Newton

It is for individual health authorities to determine the level of provision of speech therapy in the light of local circumstances, their assessment of priorities and the available resources. The number of speech therapists employed by health authorities in England increased from 1,500 (wte) in 1979 to 2,340 (wte) in 1985.

Wte=Whole time equivalent.

Mr. Alton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what plans he has to improve the quality of available data on which to base the planning of speech therapy services.

Mr. Newton

Improved information to assist health authorities plan their speech therapy services will be available after 1 April 1988 following the implementation of the recommendations of the Korner steering group on health services information. It will relate to patients treated by NHS speech therapists in all NHS premises, at schools and in patients' homes instead of the purely hospital based information provided at present. Details of the sex, age group and the source of referral (e.g. general practitioner, community nursing, social services or a "self-referral") of patients will also be available, together with the number of episodes of care completed in each year and their duration.