§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish statistics indicating the increase in resources devoted to care in the community in each year since 1983;
(2) if he will make a further statement on the resources available for care in the community, in particular with regard to schizophrenia sufferers and support for their families.
§ Mr. FreemanResources for care in the community are made available from the main programme expenditure of health authorities and local authorities. The way in which HAs and LAs deploy these resources is a matter for them to decide in the light of local needs and circumstances. Within HA budgets a specific allocation of joint finance is identified for community schemes jointly agreed between HAs, LAs, family practitioner committees and voluntary organisations.
Gross current expenditure figures for personal social services and hospital and community health services, for each financial year since 1983, in cash terms are as follows:
PSS £ million
HCHS £ million
1983–84 2,486 8,882 1984–85 2,638 9,386 1985–86 2,794 9,886 1986–87 3,090 10,623 1987–88 3,477 11,730 Data breaking down expenditure figures by type of spend are available from a number of sources, but because 417W of inconsistencies in definition, these data do not allow us to identify separately expenditure on community care although we are giving consideration as to whether it may be possible to do so in future.
Of the PSS totals given it is estimated that some 70 per cent. is spent on community care (that is on the cost of community services for all client groups except children). Of the HCHS totals it is estimated that some 10 per cent. in 1986–87, was spent on community health services.
A detailed breakdown of health and local authorities' expenditure for 1987–88 is not yet available. In 1986–87 local authorities spent (at then current prices) an estimated £44 million on residential care and day centre facilities for mentally ill people, including sufferers from schizophrenia. Other items within overall personal social services expenditure included elements of community care for mentally ill people which are not readily identifiable. In addition, health service expenditure in the same year included £151 million on out-patient and day-patient facilities for mentally ill people.
The Department of Health makes a direct contribution under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 by grant-aiding the central administrative costs of a range of voluntary organisations, among which the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, the Northern Schizohprenia Fellowship and the North West Fellowship are particularly concerned with the needs of schizophrenia sufferers and their families.