§ Dr. Traffordasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the first annual report of the National Health Advisory Service will be published; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Report is published today by Her Majesty's Stationery Office and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
131WIn the reports they have submitted during their first year of operation to me and my predecessors, the Hospital Advisory Service have given a candid and independent appraisal of conditions in a large number of mental illness, mental handicap and geriatric hospitals. Their constructive criticism and advice has been a valuable contribution to the efforts now being made to improve the services in these hospitals, and most of the advice has been accepted.
This annual report now draws general conclusions from the first year's visits which will be taken into account in developing future policies The Government acknowledges that a great deal remains to be done, and, as I announced to the House of 11th November we have undertaken to spend considerable amounts of extra money over the next four years on improving services for the mentally handicapped, the mentally ill and the old, in addition to the natural increase year by year. I expect to publish very shortly a policy statement on the care of the mentally handicapped.