§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the sums accruing to physically disabled and handicapped persons in hospitals and residential homes, after meeting all board and lodging payments, are used to fund holidays or trips, or provide special treats and are not simply allowed to accumulate unspent and unused.
§ Mr. Meadowcroftasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make a statement on the use of patients' money accumulated in long-term balances; and if has any plans to publish a circular;
(2) what plans he has to enable patients in longstay institutions to spend money which has accumulated in long-term balances on their behalf.
§ Mr. Newton[pursuant to his reply, 27 January 1984, c. 721]: We shall shortly be issuing for consultation revised guidance for health authorities on the payment, management and use of patients' money. The draft guidance will encourage the flexible and imaginative use of patients' money for a wide range of activities to enhance the quality of life of the patients concerned.
Although the guidance is intended primarily for health authorities, it will also have some relevance for local authority residential homes and local authority interests will be amongst those consulted.