§ Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is aware that there is no special hospital accommodation for the young chronically sick in Leicestershire and that at present they are accommodated in geriatric wards; and if he will indicate what he intends to do to remedy this deficiency, including in his reply an indication of the approximate date when the first appropriate unit will be in operation;
(2) what plans he has for the provision of short stay accommodation for the young chronically sick in Leicestershire.
§ Mr. Alison:I am aware of the lack of special hospital units for younger chronic sick patients in Leicestershire. The Sheffield Regional Hospital Board plans to provide a unit of 25 beds for such patients at Leicester General Hospital by 1975–76, and a further unit of 25 beds by 1981 at a site to be determined, also to serve the population of Leicestershire. Some beds at each unit will be set aside for regular intermittent admissions and holiday admissions to relieve relatives.