HC Deb 23 May 1973 vol 857 cc101-2W
Mr. Judd

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps have been taken by his Department to monitor the effectiveness of co-operation between the hospital service and local authority specialist services, such as the social services, the psychiatric services, the environmental health departments and the public health inspectorate; what advice has been given by his Department in this respect for after the introduction of the new area health authorities; and whether he will make a statement.

Sir K. Joseph

The hospital advisory service, in reporting on long-stay hospitals, obtains information about the services the hospital affords to the community and the links it has with the community. In addition, my Department concerns itself with the links between hospital authorities and local authorities as part of its general oversight of the services they provide. Following proposals put forward by the Working Party on Collaboration between the National Health Service and local government, I intend to issue advice shortly on arrangements for collaboration between the new health and local authorities, with particular regard to the personal social services, education services, and public health.

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