§ 52. Mr. SORENSENasked the Minister of Health the number of voluntary patients in public mental hospitals during the last week of 1935?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe figures are not available for the last week of 1935, but on 1st January, 1936, there were 4,296 voluntary patients in public mental hospitals, and 229 in the Maudsley Hospital.
§ Mr. SORENSENAre there any authorities which have not taken steps to secure the admission of voluntary patients?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREI should want notice of that question.
§ 53. Mr. SORENSENasked the Minister of Health the number of certified mental patients in private and public mental hospitals, respectively, in England and Wales during the last week of 1935?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThe figures are not available for the last week of 1935, but on 1st January, 1936, the number of certified mental patients in private institutions was 4,135 and in public mental hospitals 123,057.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the hon. Member aware that, unfortunately, the number of these patients has increased considerably during the period of the National Government?
§ Mr. SHAKESPEAREThere was an increase of only 169 last year.