§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the geriatric services.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI asked all hospital authorities to give special attention to the development of their geriatric services when the Hospital Building Programme was reviewed last year. Their present plans provide for an estimated increase of nearly 4,000 geriatric beds in the next four years. In addition, the numbers of out-patient attendances, day hospitals, and specialist staff are progressively in-
232Wmay be undertaken by a group of persons, which, at the Chairman's discretion, may include persons selected in equal numbers from panels drawn up by my right hon. Friend, consisting respectively of representatives of employers and employees. The Confederation of British Industries and the Trades Union Congress are consulted about these appointments. Such persons have assisted in the consideration by the Board of the following references:
creasing and I expect these features of the services to develop further.