§ 29. Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his policy to take young chronic sick patients out of geriatric wards includes a policy to exclude from geriatric hospitals wards reserved for use by young chronic sick.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisWe are concerned that hospital provision for younger chronically sick and disabled people should be related specifically to their particular needs. As my hon. Friend will be aware, health authorities have been asked to make arrangements to care for younger disabled patients separately from elderly patients. The aim of the policy is to ensure that younger patients are cared for in designated wards or units with separate staff and facilities. To achieve this separation, it is not essential nor necessarily desirable to exclude young patients from hospitals which also provide services for elderly patients. We would, however, be opposed to any proposal to set up a unit for the young chronic sick in an established geriatric hospital.