§ Mr. Gareth Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department is currently undertaking a manpower study in the field of mental handicap.
§ Mr. WhitneyIn our examination of regional health authorities' strategic plans we look for evidence that they include estimates of manpower requirements and means of meeting those requirements in their planning and that they are planning community mental handicap services in collaboration with local authorities. A small sample of mental handicap wards were included in a departmental review of nursing skill-mix which is to be presented to the National Health Service Management Board. We are also considering the report of the community nursing review which was asked to study how resources could be used more effectively to improve the services available to client groups, including mentally handicapped people.