HC Deb 28 June 1978 vol 952 cc605-6W
Mr. Prior

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the conclusion of the report published by the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council showing that East Anglia has the second highest rate of impairment from these diseases in the United Kingdom; and what additional facilities are being provided to cope with the backlog of hospital admissions, in view of the fact that many people in the Lowestoft constituency are having to wait over one year for treatment.

Mr. Moyle

The part of the report to which the Question refers contains information capable of various interpretations: it shows that in East Anglia well over half the cases impaired by rheumatism and arthritis have no disability or minor disability, and that the numbers of people who are appreciably disabled appear to be about on the national average; it indicates that, amongst males, the incidence of recorded absence from work due to rheumatic disorders is relatively low in the region.

I understand from the East Anglia Regional Health Authority that an orthopaedic consultant has been appointed and will take up duties in Great Yarmouth in the autumn to fill a post which has been vacant for some months. There have been recent improvements in rehabilitation services following the opening of a day hospital at Northgate Hospital, Great Yarmouth, where the occupational therapy and physiotherapy departments are shortly to be upgraded. Norfolk Area Health Authority has plans to increase the establishment of physiotherapists in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney district and to develop a domiciliary physiotherapy service. Completion of the first phase of the district general hospital at Great Yarmouth, now in course of construction, will allow increases in surgical facilities and concentration of 35 orthopaedic beds in one department with support from pre-convalescent beds in other hospitals. There will also be about 100 additional geriatric beds and some day beds, and these should relieve pressures on services for patients with rheumatism and arthritis.