§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaf-blind people were resident in the area of each local authority in England and Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; how many local authorities do not currently offer basic rehabilitation and social work support services for deaf-blind people; what action he is taking to improve local provision for them; and if he will make a statement. [27144]
§ Mr. BowisCentrally available information about people registered with local authorities as being blind who are also deaf is published in "Registered Blind and Partially Sighted People at 31 March 1994, England", copies of which are available in the Library.
Information about the number of local authorities that do not currently offer basic rehabilitation and social work support services for deaf-blind people is not available centrally. Under the community care arrangements, local authorities carry out individual assessments of need for people who may need community care services, including 132W those with dual sensory loss. Authorities will need to consider the needs of this client group when drawing up their community care plans.
The Department of Health works closely with the Association of Directors of Social Services to promote awareness of the needs of deaf-blind people. Draft good practice guidelines for older people with dual sensory loss were published in November 1995 and are currently being piloted in selected local authorities. Support is provided under the section 64 general scheme of grants for Sense—the National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association—and the National Deaf-Blind League, and project grants for Sense, the UK coalition on deaf-blindness, the NDBL and the Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People.