§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to 234W undertake his promised examination of the major issues raised by recent mental hospital inquiries.
§ Mr. EnnalsI have decided to set up a high-level working group to examine the main problems arising from recent mental hospital inquiry reports and in particular the organisational management problems of mental illness hospitals and units, in relation both to the new NHS structure and to the development of local District services. It will also examine those problems and solutions common to mental illness and mental handicap services. Its work will be complemented by the study being undertaken by the National Development Group for the mentally handicapped into how to bring about better performance, within existing resource constraints, in hospitals for the mentally handicapped. The working group will have a membership drawn largely from people who have practical experience. They will mostly be from the NHS, working for health authorities or in the mental hospitals themselves. I also hope to have members from the social services, as well as members representing community health councils, voluntary organisations and the Health Advisory Service. The names will be announced shortly.
The group will soon be able to start its complex and difficult task and is expected to report to me in 1978.