XN000022-1987-10-07 — Page 45

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987

SIR DAVID ALSO SAID IT WAS PLANNED TO EXTEND AND CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT SCHEME, AND IT WOULD NOW BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE WORKERS RETIRING BECAUSE OF OLD AGE OR ILL HEALTH.

ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES GENERALLY, THE GOVERNOR SPOKE OF PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE PHYSICAL NEEDS OF THE FRAIL AND THE INFIRM, QUITE APART FROM FINANCIAL NEEDS.

THE SHORTAGE OF PLACES IN CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED WELFARE AGENCIES HAD LED TO THE MUSHROOMING OF PRIVATE NURSING HOMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND THE STANDARDS OF SERVICE IN THESE COULD VARY GREATLY.

"THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS NOW ASSESSING THE EXTENT ΤΟ WHICH THEY COMPLY WITH THE CODE OF PRACTICE ISSUED LAST YEAR, AND WILL THEN DECIDE WHETHER LEGISLATION 19 REQUIRED TO BRING THESE HOMES UNDER CLOSER CONTROL.

"MEANWHILE, WE ARE CONTINUING WITH OUR PROGRAMME THE PROVISION OF CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES. THERE ARR HOMES PROVIDING JUST UNDER 1,500 PLACES. BY 1991-92 WE FIGURES TO RISE TO 28 HOMES WITH NEARLY 5,000 PLACES."

TO . INCREASE NOW 12 SUCH KXPECT THESE

ROYAL FOUNDATION FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ANNOUNCED

*

A PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH A QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE FOUNDATION

FOR

THE WILSON,

WOULD BE SET UP WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE QUEEN, SAID SIR DAVID WHEN

DESCRIBING THE PARTICULAR ATTENTION THAT WOULD BE PAID TO SERVICES FOR THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED AND THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE FOUNDATION WOULD BE FUNDED JOINTLY THE SALE OF ROYAL VISIT GOLD COINS, FROM GENERAL REVENUE AND CONTRIBUTIONS BY OTHER DONORS.

FROM FROM

"THE FOUNDATION WILL COMPLEMENT THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME IN THIS AREA. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE CARE, ATTENTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, HE SAID.

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SIR DAVID SAID OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE THE FACILITIES FOR CHILD ASSESSMENT AND FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF DISABLED AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.

"MORE WILL BE DONE TO

PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESIDENTIAL PLACES AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND THE DISABLED."

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