HC Deb 16 June 1981 vol 6 cc325-8W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many times his Department has taken over responsibility for mentally handicapped institutions where the standards laid down by legislation have not been met on more than one occasion; what instructions his Department has given to the authority concerned in each case; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what action has been proposed by the national development team for the mentally handicapped where its investigations have shown that standards are below the requirements laid down in appropriate legislation; what action his Department has taken; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

Standards for mental handicap hospitals and institutions are not laid down by legislation. However, advice and guidance is available to the responsible health and local authorities through, for example, the development team and the comprehensive publications of the national development group. These include "Improving the Quality of Services for Mentally Handicapped People: A Checklist of Standards", which is designed to help authorities monitor their own services and which was distributed to all authorities concerned last December.

It is for the field authorities concerned to consider and take any action on the development team's recommendations, but, since 1978, the team has been asked to follow up all its visits as a matter of routine. So far, nine follow-up visits have been made.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken to carry out his duties under section 4 of the National Health Service Act 1977, by providing where necessary special hospitals where mentally handicapped patients receive the standard of care laid down in the Act; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 9 June.—[Vol. 6 c.70–71]. Mentally handicapped patients who require treatment in a special hospital are normally admitted to Rampton or Moss Side hospitals.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the names of institutions for the mentally handicapped about which there have been complaints over the past four years; if he will list the nature of the complaints; if he will indicate what action was taken either by the responsible area health authority or by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

I regret that this information is not collected centrally. Responsibility for investigating complaints rests primarily with the health authority concerned, and authorities are not required to notify the Department about the complaints they receive or the action taken.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the hospitals and institutions visited by the national development team for the mentally handicapped, or their staff; if he will indicate the establishments where the team is satisfied with the systematic assessment of the individual needs of each mentally handicapped patient; and if he will make a statement.

Sir George Young

Since being set up in 1976, the development team for the mentally handicapped has visited the hospitals in the following list and their associated units. Over 150 local authority residential establishments have also been visited.

It is for the health and local authorities concerned to decide whether to publish the team's report on its services. The team has emphasised in its published reports the importance of regular assessments followed by goal-setting programmes to help the individual mentally handicapped person make progress.

Hospitals visited by the development ream for the mentally handicapped
Area Health Authority Hospital
Bedfordshire Bromham
Berkshire Borocourt
Wayland
Style Acre
Cumner Rise
Smith
Birmingham Middlefield
Monyhull
Bromley Cheyne
Angas Home
Calderdale Fielden
Standsfield View
Cheshire Newchurch
Warrington
Crow Wood
The Manor
Mary Dendy
Cranage Hall
Croydon St Lawrence's
Cumbria Dovenby Hall
Derbyshire Aston Hall
Milner House
Makeney
Bingham House
Whittingham Hall
Martin Moor
Ridgeway
Dronfield
Doncaster St. Catherine's
Durham Aycliffe
Earls House
Sedgefield
East Sussex Laughton Lodge
Foredown
Mount Pleasant
Hill House
East Down
Pouchlands
Hampshire Coldeast
Tatchbury Mount
Hereford and Worcester Lea
Lea Castle
Dean Hill
Hertfordshire Cell Barnes
Harperbury
Leavesden
Winifred House
Kingsbury
Chace Village
Kirklees The Mansion
Lancashire Royal Albert
Leeds Meanwood Park
Wharfe Grange
Crooked Acres
Leicestershire Leicester Frith
Mount Sorrel
Stretton Hall
Lincolnshire Caistor
Harmston Hall
Fleet
St. Peter's
Liverpool Olive Mount
Rathbone
Merton Sutton and Wandsworth Queen Mary's
Norfolk Little Plumstead
North Yorkshire Claypenny
Whixley
Thornton Lodge
Nottingham Balderton
Ransom
Victoria
Sandfield
Highbury
Kilton
Oxfordshire Bradwell Grove
Cotshill
Salford Swinton
Sheffield Aughton Court
Grenoside
St. Joseph's
Middlewood
Lightwood House
Rivermead
Wales Court
Staffordshire Bagnall
Stallington
St. Edward' s
Surrey Botleys Park
The Manor
Rotherham Beechcroft
Wakefield Fieldhead
Walsall St. Margaret's
Warwickshire Abbeyfield
Bramcote
Chelmsley
Coleshill
Weston