HC Deb 06 March 1973 vol 852 cc69-70W
44. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the latest figures for the numbers of home helps employed by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Sir K. Joseph

The figures are as follows:

HOME HELPS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER 1972
Part-time staff
Number of whole-time staff Number Whole-time equivalent Total whole-time equivalent
2,598 72,142 32,587 35,185

They show an increase in staff—wholetime equivalents—since 1971 of about 11 per cent. compared with an increase between 1970 and 1971 of 6.2 per cent. This rate of increase has not been uniform throughout the country: some local authorities show a drop in the number of home helps between 1971 and 1972. The total represents 76 home helps per

months; and what action he proposes to improve the situation.

Mr. Alison

709, of whom nearly all are for ear, nose or throat surgery. Over a third have been on the list for less than three months. A detailed analysis is given below.

Of the 92 beds available in the hospital, 20 are allocated to Ear, Nose and Throat patients. The Regional Hospital Board is taking steps to appoint an extra Senior Registrar and Senior House Officer to the Ear, Nose and Throat Department during 1973–74. It is also planning to provide an extra 14 or 15 beds at the hospital during 1974–75.

Following is the information:

100,000 population, compared with 68.5 in September 1971 and 63 per 100,000 in 1967 at the time of the survey of the home help service carried out by the Government social survey. I have suggested to local authorities that over the next 10 years they should plan for an expansion of the service to between two and three times its 1967 level, and I therefore welcome the growth during the last year, and hope to see it sustained in future.