asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that the difficulties in the reception and treatment of subnormal patients in East Hertfordshire have been aggravated by the suspension of admissions to South Ockendon Hospital; and what compensatory provision or improvements he proposes to make.

Yes, Sir. Immediate steps to relieve pressure at the hospital include the addition of a ward unit and improved staffing. Additional beds and day facilities for subnormal patients will be provided elsewhere and the discharge of some patients to local authority care is being considered.

While I do not want in any way to aggravate the problems of South Ockendon Hospital, a hospital which I hold in high regard, would the Minister not accept that he must either make it possible for there to be a resumption of the full flow of subnormal patients to this hospital, or make some other adequate alternative arrangements so that these distressing cases which are constantly being brought to my notice and to the notice of others may be properly, sympathetically, and helpfully dealt with?

We ought to get the problem in perspective. Since we have been examining the matter carefully, the Board has now identified 127 patients at South Ockendon most of whom do not appear to need hospital care and who should be under the care of local authorities outside. A few of these have been moved already. The main job is to get local authorities to build hostels and to get staff to look after those patients properly so that urgent cases can take their place. This is a major problem of integrating the service to which we are giving attention.