Mental Handicap Services (Hansard, 23 January 1997)

HC Deb 23 January 1997 vol 288 cc738-9W 738W

§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what arrangements are being made concerning the transfer of funds from mental handicap hospitals that are closed to mental handicap community services; who is responsible for determining these arrangements; and what mechanisms there are to ensure that the funds released continue to be used for mental handicap community services; [11324]
(2) what steps are being taken to ensure that funds transferred from Gogarburn hospital to alternative services in the community will continue in perpetuity to be used for the benefit of people with a learning disability. [11325]

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
The size and timing of resource transfers from the NHS to local authorities and others are matters for local determination following joint local needs assessments.
739W
Where hospital closures are proposed, the agencies involved are charged with ensuring that replacement care and support services appropriate to needs are in place and available before any closure is made.
Resources transferred from health boards to local authorities continue to be NHS resources for which the councils account to the boards to ensure that the moneys are spent on the level and type of services agreed following local needs assessments.
My Department monitors individual resource transfers.

§ Mr. Griffiths
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current position regarding planned closures of long-stay mental handicap hospitals in Scotland; which hospitals are proposed for closure; on what dates; and what funds will be available for community services as a result of the closures. [11323]

§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
Health boards' plans have been approved for the closure of two long-stay mental handicap hospitals in Scotland: Gogarburn hospital in Lothian and Woodilee hospital in Greater Glasgow, but neither hospital will close until alternative facilities and services are in place and properly resourced.
Where hospital closures are proposed, the agencies involved are charged with ensuring that replacement care and support services appropriate to needs are in place. The level of funding required for alternative community services is a matter for local determination.