Vol. 402 No. 8
115 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the number of applicants on the acute urgent list for residential care in each health board area; the steps being taken by him to reduce these waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Health boards and mental handicap agencies give priority to the people with mental handicap who require residential care urgently. If a permanent residential place is not available immediately, other services, such as respite or day care, are provided to assist the individual and his or her family.
At present, co-ordinating committees, representative of the statutory and voluntary providers of services for people with mental handicap, are preparing plans to identify and meet the priority needs of those with mental handicap throughout the country. When these plans have been prepared, firm figures will be available about the numbers requiring additional services and the kind of services required.
The provision of additional respite facilities is a priority of service development. Respite care, by offering families regular and planned breaks from the responsibility of caring, enables families to cope better and to continue caring for their handicapped member for a longer period at home. Attention is also being given to strengthening support at home to families caring for persons with mental handicap.
In the past, persons with mental handicap were referred to mental hospitals for residential care. It is now policy that persons with mental handicap, unless they have a psychiatric disorder, should not be referred to psychiatric hospitals.
In 1990 an additional £2 million was allocated for persons with mental handicap which enabled 170 residential places, 442 day places, expanded support for 66 families and an extra 25 staff to be provided. The question of providing further funds in 1991 for residential and other needs will be considered as sympathetically as possible in the light of the resources available for the development of the mental handicap service.
