§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking with the health authorities in inner London to assist them to improve primary health care services in the areas, following the recommendations of the report of the London Health Planning Consortium under the chairmanship of Professor Acheson; and what additional resources he will provide for these improvements.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI have asked health authorities in inner London to consider the report as a basis for action, and invited comments from them and other interested organisations. The Department is considering those recommendations for which it is responsible.
Previous reports have said that London has too many acute beds, that their number should be reduced, and that the consequent savings should be used to develop the primary health care services. The Acheson report endorsed that general approach. The Department will monitor the progress health authorities are able to make in this and will announce its own direct response to the Acheson recommendations in due course.