Community Care (Hansard, 12 December 1989)

§ 34. Mr. Janner
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the impact of the community care White Paper on the mental health services.

§ Mr. Freeman
We have received two representations concerning the impact on mental health services of the Government's White Paper on community care, and are considering both carefully.

§ 35. Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to meet the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the role of local authorities in community care policy formulation.

§ 70. Mr. Wall
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to meet the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the role of local authorities in community care policy formulation.

§ 80. Mr. Litherland
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to meet the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the role of local authorities in community care policy formulation.

§ 90. Mr. John Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next expects to meet the Association of Metropolitan Authorities; and what matters he hopes to discuss.

§ 110. Mr. Patchett
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to meet the Association of Metropolitan Authorities to discuss the role of local authorities in community care policy formulation.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
I met representatives of the Association of metropolitan Authorities (AMA) on 2 November and again on 16 November to discuss community care. Officials have been meeting regularly with officers of the association over recent months to discuss a range of community care issues, including detailed financial matters. We shall continue to engage in regular consultation with the AMA and the other Local Authority Associations as we plan the implementation of our proposals for community care which were set out in our recent White Paper, "Caring for People" (Cm. 849).

§ 36. Mr. Haynes
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comments he has received on the White Paper on community care.

78. Mr. Adams
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comments he has received on the White Paper on community care.

§ 82. Mr. Cunliffe
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comments he has received on the White Paper on community care.

§ 108. Mr. Andrew Bowden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comments he has received in response to the community care White Paper.

§ 119. Dr. Godman
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comments he has received on the White Paper on community care.

§ 120. Rev. Martin Smyth
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since the 605W publication of the White Paper on Community care and the publication of the National Health Service and Community Care Bill.

§ 121. Mr. Ieuan Wyn Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in the White Paper on community care; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
We have received several representations following publication of our White Paper "Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond'. Most have expressed a general welcome for our proposals. Some have raised detailed concerns about a number of implementation issues which we shall be discussing with representatives of the local authority associations and other interested parties as part of our preparations for implementation in April 1991.

§ 37. Mr. David Shaw
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on services for disabled patients and the Government's proposals for community care.

§ 94. Sir David Price
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about care for the disabled and the elderly.

§ Mr. Freeman
The Government's policies for improving health services and community care for all are set out in our White Papers, "Working for Patients" (Cm 555) and "Caring for People" (Cm 849). Under the proposals for NHS services district health authorities will be responsible for seeing that the needs of all their resident population, including elderly people and those with disabilities, are met and that patients have access to a comprehensive range of high quality, value for money services. Paragraph 2.12 of "Caring for People" sets out our particular priorities for health and community care for elderly people and people with disabilities. They are to promote positive and healthy lifestyles, promote coherent networks of local services designed to assist people to live dignified and independent lives in their own homes, provide a full range of appropriate health care facilities for those who require it, avoid unnecessary institutional care by ensuring that decisions on the provisions of services are made on the basis of assessed need, and ensure improved access to information about local and national facilities including respite care, and a greater involvement of patients, clients and carers in the development of services. In addition under our new contract for general medical practitioners GPs will be expected to offer a visit to those aged 75 or over to see their home environment, find out whether carers and relatives are available and to assess social, physical and mental well-being.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will make it his policy to provide adequate financial resources to ensure that care in the community is matched to the needs of individuals in each community.

§ Mr. Freeman
[holding answer 6 December 1989]: We recognise that local authorities will need adequate resources for their enhanced responsibilities under the community care proposals outlined in our White Paper "Caring for People: Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond", published on 16 November. This will be achieved by transferring to the local authorities the 606W resources that the Government would otherwise have provided to finance care through social security payments to people in residential and nursing homes. We also recognise that the numbers of people needing support are growing, so the transfer will take account of demographic factors. With funding coming principally through the revenue support grant, local authorities will be able to make their own decisions on individual community care needs based on local knowledge.

§ 124. Mr. Arbuthnot
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on mentally ill patients and the Government's proposals for community care.

§ Mr. Freeman
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs) on 14 November at column193, following which the Government's White Paper on community care entitled "Caring for People" was published.

§ 103. Mr. Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a further statement on the provision of community care for the mentally ill.

§ Mr. Freeman
Our recent White Paper on community care entitled "Caring for People", published on 16 November, sets out the Government's position on the provision of community care for mentally ill people.

§ 101. Mr. Ashley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the general practitioner services required by disabled people who have left hospitals and institutions to live in the community are considered to be part of a general practitioner's obligation under the National Health Service or to be so exceptional as to require extra payment.

§ Mr. Freeman
Within the National Health Service, a general practitioner is obliged to provide to his patients all necessary and appropriate personal medical services. This includes arranging for the referral of patients, as appropriate, to any other services provided under the NHS, such as the community nursing services, or by a local social services authority. We have no plans for extra payments to general practitioners for providing these services to disabled patients who are returning to live in the community.

§ 48. Mr. Tom Clarke
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has in mind to acknowledge and ascertain the views of carers on policy formulation on community care.

§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
We intend to ensure that representatives of carers are consulted on, and involved in, planning for the implementation of our community care proposals. Officials at the Department meet regularly with national organisations representing carers to discuss matters of common concern and we have already received some initial views on how best to secure the involvement of carers in the implementation process.