§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the proportion of one psychologist per 270 patients, one speech therapist per 1,000 patients and one physiotherapist per 320 patients in long-stay mental subnormality hospitals; what support he is giving to increase the supply of physiotherapists, psychologists and speech therapists at these hospitals; what efforts are being made to increase the supply of medical and nursing staff; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungIt is for individual health authorities to decide whether staffing levels in their area are satisfactory, and their priorities for recruitment, in the
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§ Sir George YoungThe development team for the mentally handicapped is not an inspectorate, but offers practical advice and assistance to the health and local authorities it visits to enable them to improve the services and facilities they provide for mentally handicapped people and their families. I refer the hon. Member to the two reports published by the team which describe the scope of its work, its method of operation and its findings generally. Copies of these reports are in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if Borocourt or St. Lawrence's hospitals were among the hospitals which received follow-up visits from the development team for the mentally handicapped; if he will now consider publishing the reports of the nine follow-up visits referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Eccles on 16 June; if he considers that the publication of such reports would be in the public interest; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungNeither of these hospitals has yet received a follow-up visit from the development team. Borocourt hospital was visited by the team in October 1978, and St. Lawrence's hospital in January this year.
Regarding publication of the team's reports, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 5 June.—[Vol. 5, c. 442.]