§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what developments have taken place regarding the provision of facilities for elderly and geriatric patients who are acutely and chronically ill in the Salford area health authority; what steps have been taken to improve the situation; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has received regarding the provision of facilities for acutely ill patients in the Salford area health authority; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what representation he has received from the Salford area local medical committee regarding in-patientout-patient facilities in the Salford area; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what representation he has received regarding ear, nose and throat orthopaedic and ante-natal clinic facilities in the Salford area health authority; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. VaughanThe right hon. Member for Salford, West (Mr. Orme), the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) and the chairman of the Salford area local medical committee have written to my right hon. Friend about hospital services in Salford. The North-western regional health authority and the Salford area health authority (teaching) recognise the need to improve further the health services in the area and they are taking steps to do so. Work on phase I of the redevelopment of Hope hospital will begin very shortly and includes beds for 571W neurosurgery and intensive and coronary care, day wards, an accident and emergency department, an out-patient department, X-ray and operating theatres. As regards services for the elderly in Salford, agency arrangements have been made by the area health authority (teaching) for elderly people living with relatives and others to be admitted for short-term holiday relief and for some contractual beds to be made available. Joint financing arrangements are being used to provide a night nursing service and day care units for the elderly. The area health authority (teaching) is negotiating with the local authority to develop sheltered housing for the elderly and the local authority has increased its night sitter service over the past year. Approval has been given for the early appointment of a professor and senior lecturer in geriatric medicine at the University of Salford medical school. And a 56-bed unit for the elderly severely mentally infirm at Peel Hall hospital is included in the regional health authority's capital programme for a start in 1981.