§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which regional health authorities have set up drug dependence units for detoxification counselling and treatment of addicts; if he will give details in the Official Report; what co-ordination of these facilities he has set up; and what publicity he is giving to the need for drug addicts to seek treatment.
§ Mr. John PattenDetails of regional health authority drug dependence units are set out below. However, much of the hospital treatment of drug misusers takes place outside these units as part of the NHS general psychiatric services. As announced in my reply of 9 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) at columns756–60, a circular is being sent to regional health
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§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt simply is not practicable nor sensible to give such a guarantee for all patients at all times. For instance, I understand that in order to secure training recognition from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology for one of the junior medical posts at the hospital it has proved necessary for this post to be staffed on secondment from University College hospital and it may sometimes be filled by a man. The hospital's medical staff committee has recognised that a junior training post is the only acceptable way of providing a high standard of medical care on a twenty-four hour basis.