The development of strategic guidelines for regional planning of rehabilitation services

After sketching in the background of services for the disabled and of rehabilitation facilities in England, this paper then proceeds to record the authors' experience in participating in the strategic planning process of a regional health authority serving a population of almost 4 1/2 million people. Model strategic guidelines for rehabilitation services are then presented; these include target service levels for personpower, and a consideration of some of the physical resources needed. The paper concludes with an appendix citing estimates for the frequency of occurrence of various classes of impairment and disability within the region considered.