ABSTRACT
The continuing debate on “privatisation”, thrust into prominence specifically by the proposal that Health Authorities could assess the scope for contracting with Nursing Homes for the care of elderly N.H.S. patients, poses some interesting questions to people caring for elderly residents in statutory Personal Social Services agencies. First, perhaps the most significant question is why is not the future of Social Services facilities, rather than just those of the N.H.S., made an issue by any of the parties, despite the clear existence of similar sets of Government suggestions for them? Second, the debate is carried on as if relevant data were completely lacking. I shall base this on two main sources.
