§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of assistance given to the National Health Service by voluntary organisations.
§ Mrs. CurrieI am happy to pay tribute to the important contribution which voluntary organisations and individual volunteers make to the National Health Service. Voluntary organisations complement the work of the National Health Service, for example in providing services which help to make a patient's stay in hospital more pleasant and in raising extra funds for amenities and equipment. Voluntary organisations can also provide a useful channel for consumer input to the development of710W statutory services, while they increase the direct involvement of individual volunteers which strengthens the National Health Service's links with local communities. There are a growing number of voluntary and self help groups supporting patients with particular ailments, many of which receive grant aid both from DHSS and local health authorities.
We have good reason to be grateful to voluntary organisations and to those who work in them.