§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to develop domiciliary medical services in order to reduce demand for hospital beds.
§ Mr. EnnalsFor those not requiring the types of care and treatment which can be given only in hospital, care in the community is provided by the local authority health and welfare services and by the general practitioner services.
The local authorities' plans for the development of their services have been set out in Cmnd.3022, "Health and Welfare: The Development of Community Care: Revision to 1975–76 of the plans of the local authorities in England and Wales", published in June, 1966.
As regards the general practitioner services the Government are continuing to encourage developments on the lines set out in my right hon. Friend's reply on 5th February, 1968, to my hon. Friend the Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop). The Health Services and Public Health Act recently passed includes provisions to facilitate developments in a number of domiciliary services.—[Vol. 758, c. 13–14.]