§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ascertain if voluntary organisations, like the Richmond Fellowship, can be helped to take patients awaiting transfer from the special hospitals; and whether he is planning to take up the offer of the Richmond Fellowship to take 30–40 patients off the transfer list at Rampton.
§ Sir George YoungLocal authorities have a general statutory duty to make arrangements for the provision of residential accommodation for the after-care of discharged patients in their area, and may do so by paying fees for placements in accommodation provided by voluntary organisations; the Rampton hospital review team, however, drew attention to difficulties in arranging suitable placements for some patients ready for discharge from the hospital, especially patients with no clear links with any particular locality, and made a number of relevant suggestions which I am now considering. The Richmond Fellowship wrote to the Department on 1 April suggesting the possibility of the fellowship's providing accommodation for around 30 patients discharged from Rampton hospital, if payment of fees could be guaranteed, and asking for a meeting to discuss this among other issues. We need more information about this proposal, and officials are seeking a meeting. I shall write to the hon. Member in due course.