FOREST Hill MLA Neil Angus has called on the state government to provide more respite services in his electorate.

The Department of Human Services funds 83 respite beds, 44 of which are for children, at 15 sites across the Eastern Metropolitan Region, which includes the suburb of Forest Hill. The DHS does not break down statistics for each suburb.

The Forest Hill electorate covers the suburbs of Blackburn South, Burwood East, Vermont South and parts of the suburbs of Forest Hill and Vermont.

Mr Angus said many families had difficulty accessing care. He said he had recently spoken with the single mother of an intellectually disabled child who was unable to access respite services.

‘‘She would end each day totally exhausted and face the same circumstances again the next day and every day following that. For her to be able to access some additional respite care services would be a very significant breakthrough in her circumstances.’’

Ray Cranwell, chief executive of the Alkira Centre, which provides six respite beds in Mont Albert and Forest Hill for adults for intellectual disabilities, said additional funding for respite facilities would always be welcome. The centre receives state government funding for two of the beds but it covers the costs of the other four beds through private donations.

The respite beds cater for parents who need a break, offer temporary accommodation for clients whose parents are ageing, and serve as emergency accommodation.

Mr Cranwell said funding was also needed for recreational activities such as movie nights and dinners out for clients.

Minister for community services and Doncaster MLA Mary Wooldridge said the Coalition government was considering options to expand respite services.

‘‘Neil’s advocacy on behalf of his constituents, and the need for better access to respite in his electorate, have certainly been noted by the government,” she said.