Nora Owen
Question:55 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to extend medical services to people with mental handicap, especially to those in need of speech therapy and genetic counselling.
Written Answers. - Mental Handicap Services.
Medical services are available to all people with mental handicap.
Under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress, the Government are committed to the development of support services for people with mental handicap and their carers in the community. The need to expand genetic counselling and speech therapy services in this respect is recognised.
Plans will be prepared in each health board area to develop mental handicap services which will be implemented in line with the resources made available under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress.
My Department are currently examining the difficulties being experienced in the recruitment of speech therapists and the number of training places is being reviewed with the educational authority.
The report of a special committee on medical genetics services has been submitted to me and is currently being examined in the Department. As soon as this examination is complete I will be initiating discussions with the parties who will be involved in the implementation of the proposals in the report.