Vol. 425 No. 7
455 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health the specific additional funding which will be available from his Department for 1993 to facilitate the provision of services for the elderly in view of the fact that 1993 has been designated the Year of the Elderly by the European Community.
476 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Health whether he will mark the special year of the Elderly by immediately implementing the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
478 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Health the specific additional funding which will be available from his Department for 1993 to facilitate the provision of services for the elderly in view of the fact that 1993 has been designated the Year of the Elderly.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 455, 476 and 478 together.
Final details of funding of the Health Services in 1993 will not be known until Budget Day. The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a number of commitments to improve health services for the elderly this year, including a reduction in hospital waiting lists for hip replacement, cataract operations and cardiac by-pass surgery, the implementation of the Health (Nursing Homes) Act and the publication of a health charter for the elderly.
In addition, a sum of £400,000 has been made available to the National Co-ordinating Committee this year to achieve the objectives of the European Year in this country. The bulk of this funding will be allocated to voluntary organisations to assist them with activities to promote the well-being of older persons during the year.
