Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

1 Information as to need for and existence of social welfare services.N.I.

(1)The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland shall inform itself of the number of and, so far as reasonably practicable, the identity of persons who are blind, deaf or dumb, and other persons who are substantially handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity and whose handicap is of a permanent or lasting nature or are suffering from a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health [F1(Northern Ireland) Order 1986], and of the need for the making by that Department of arrangements for promoting the social welfare of such persons under Articles 4(b) and 15 of the M1Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.

(2)The Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland—

(a)shall cause to be published from time to time at such times and in such manner as that Department considers appropriate general information as to the services provided under such arrangements which are for the time being available under Articles 4(b) and 15 of the M2Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972; and

(b)shall ensure that any such person as aforesaid who uses any of those services is informed of any other services provided under the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 and of services provided by other government departments, public bodies and voluntary organisations which in the opinion of the Department are relevant to his needs.