§ Mr. ArbuthnotTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the report of the review of the functions of his Department's therapy officer posts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellWe have now received and considered the report and arranged for copies to be placed in the library. Mr. John Cashman has earned our gratitude for the fair and thorough way in which he has carried out his task. The Department will be giving the departmental staff side the opportunity to comment on the recommendations and on the action proposed.
At the outset, the report commends the present holders of therapy posts in the Department for their commitment, dedication, wide ranging experience and professionalism. We are happy to endorse those comments.
The report's main recommendation is that the department should continue to have an establishment of full-time therapy officers. This should comprise one full-time post each for physiotherapy, occupational 349W therapy and speech therapy. We accept this recommendation. Future appointments to these three posts will be made for periods of five years and the need for the posts will be kept under review.
The report acknowledges that the department may require additional advice on therapy services which could be met through consultancy contracts or short-term secondments related to specific projects. The case for buying in services in this way will be considered on an annual basis.
A number of other recommendations are aimed at bringing the therapy officers more closely within the mainstream of the Department's management and budgetary arrangements. These will be put into effect as soon as practicable.