HC Deb 08 November 1989 vol 159 c677W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to health authorities on the protection of day services in mental handicap hospitals during the period of rundown in patient numbers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

Planning guidelines issued to health authorities in Health Circular (88) 43 (a copy of which is in the Library) state that health authorities should aimto provide good quality care for mentally handicapped people in all settings including maintaining and where necessary improving standards in large hospitals as their populations reduce.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has about the current provision of day services in mental handicap hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

The most current information available for 1987–88 concerning the provision of day care facilities in England is contained in the Department of Health publication "Summary of KH14—NHS Day Care Facilities", a copy of which is in the Library. These figures include facilities outside mental handicap hospitals.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that the resources of large mental handicap hospitals are redeployed for the benefit of people with mental handicap, in particular for the provision of day services, when these funds are no longer required on site; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

Decisions regarding the use of resources released from large mental handicap hospitals are primarily matters for health authorities in consultation with the relevant local authorities—as they are best placed to know the needs of the population in their area. Arrangements already exist whereby health authorities can transfer funding to local authorities to assist in the provision of community care. Proceeds from the sale of mental handicap hospitals must be used specifically for the development of services for that client group unless there are exceptional circumstances and the Department has agreed otherwise.