§ Dr. Vaughanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is his policy to provide day hospitals for the mentally handicapped; and what progress has been made in this regard.
§ Sir K. JosephA recommendation that day hospital services should be provided for the mentally handicapped was put to hospital authorities in a memorandum issued by my Department in 1964. Such services can be provided either at separate day hospitals or at hospitals which also have in-patients. At the end of 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, 623 day patients were attending at 55 hospitals. Hospital boards are being encouraged to increase facilities for day patients. In 1971–72 they plan to start building six new day hospitals providing about 330 places as well as increasing facilities for day patients at existing hospitals.