§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations the Minister for Health has received on the need for quick and easy access for local care groups when aids for sick and disabled people are needed in times of emergency; what action has resulted; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThe right hon. Gentleman wrote to me earlier this year about the cases of two of his constituents who had had difficulty in obtaining urgently needed aids—which were in fact provided752W following the intervention with the health and local authorities of the organiser of a local group of volunteers.
In my reply on 27 November I in formed the right hon. Gentleman that the Manchester area health authority (teaching) and the City of Manchester social services department had agreed, in the light of these cases, on the need to develop a joint policy for the provision of aids in patients' homes following discharge from hospital. A small working party set up by the area health authority (teaching) to consider these problems and make recommendations has submitted its report to the joint care planning team, which is responsible for matters of common interest between the health and personal social services. As a result of this report, the area health authority (teaching) and the social services department have now agreed on the division of responsibility between them for supplying aids and on a revision of procedure to enable the staff concerned to obtain aids from hospitals with the minimum of delay.
Generally it is the health and social services authorities which are responsible for supplying aids and for making the arrangements necessary to meet emergency needs. I am pleased that in the case of Manchester, the right hon. Gentleman's representations to me have had such a positive result.