§ 17. Mr. John Lewisasked the Minister of Health whether he will state the number of patients who are at present in the mental wards of public assistance institutions; and the number of these patients who are receiving treatment of any kind.
§ Mr. BevanOn the 1st January of this year there were under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts 10,550 persons in public assistance institutions or wards of municipal general hospitals approved for the purpose by local authorities under Section 19 of the Mental Treatment Act. On the same date there were 9,852 mental defectives in public assistance institutions which had been approved for the purpose under Section 37 of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913. A considerable proportion of these patients require only to be looked after; but those needing treatment receive it from the medical officers of the institution.
§ Mr. J. LewisWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that there are a large number of patients in these institutions who are not receiving treatment of any kind, and will he undertake, when bringing in his National Health Bill, to take into account this deplorable situation?
§ Mr. BevanThere is, of course, in mental institutions, as in hospitals, a great shortage of both nursing and domestic staffs, and I have recently been taking urgent measures to deal with the short age.
Major LloydWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree, from the figures at his disposal, that the number of these unfortunate cases has substantially increased since last July?
§ Mr. GallacherIs the right hon. Gentle man aware that a suggestion was made here last night that their number should be added to from this House, and would he like lo say from which quarter?