§ Dr. Roger Thomas asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, following publication of his Department's report "Care in the Community", he will take steps to expand this aspect of medical care, particularly as regards the elderly, the mentally ill and the mentally retarded.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg: Yes. The importance of developing community care for elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped people was emphasised in "Care in Action", our handbook of policies and priorities for health and personal social services; and the consultative document "Care in the Community" suggests ways of encouraging the transfer of patients and resources from hospital to the care of the personal social services. We shall be issuing further advice in due course.