HC Deb 07 July 1992 vol 211 cc143-4W
Mrs. Jane Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to collect information on provision of respite care in each local authority area;

(2) what figures her Department currently collects regarding respite care provided through local authorities; and when the figures will be published.

Mr. Yeo

Respite care can take many forms, such as a short-stay placement in a residential setting or hospital, attendance at a day centre, or arrangements for a care worker or volunteer to stay in the person's own home—perhaps for only a few hours a week—to provide respite for their main carer. Statistics collected by the Department do not therefore include respite care as a specific item.

Information is collected centrally on the numbers of short-stay admissions and short-stay residents in local authority staffed residential homes for adults for each local authority in England. These figures do not distinguish people receiving respite care from those receiving emergency, phased or intermittent care, which categories may all include elements of respite care. A copy of the publication—RA/91/2—containing the data for the year ending 31 March 1991 for the elderly and younger physically handicapped client groups is in the Library.

Revised central statistical returns identify the provision of accommodation to children under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 by means of an agreement covering a series of placements. This information will include episodes of respite care but does not specifically identify them. The first such returns relate to the period ending 31 March 1992; no publication date for the information has been set.

There are no current plans to collect additional information in respect of respite care.

Mrs. Jane Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will encourage local authorities to publish detailed information regarding respite provisions available in their respective areas.

Mr. Yeo

Local authorities are expected to provide information to carers about the services available to support them, including respite care services. Community care plans should also include information about the provision of such services.