HC Deb 20 May 1954 vol 527 cc2261-2
2 and 3. Mr. Edward Evans

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many deaf persons without speech and language are inmates of mental hospitals and institutions; whether he will give figures placing them in age groups, within a 10-year range; and the average intake and discharge of such patients per year since the end of the war in 1945;

(2) in regard to deaf inmates of mental hospitals and institutions, the age-range of these inmates and the ages, in ranges of 10 years, when they were admitted.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)

I will, with permission, circulate the answer in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Evans

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether the incidence of mental deficiency among these people is higher than that among other people? Secondly, is he satisfied that ail the considerations in regard to the certification of deaf-mutes are borne in mind by certifying officers?

Mr. Macleod

I am not certain that I have the information to enable me to answer that supplementary question. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will study the answer and put a Question down.

Mr. Evans

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of my question?

Following is the answer:

The following table gives the numbers on 1st April, 1954, in all but a few hospitals, from which returns have not yet been received.

Age Mental hospitals Mental deficiency hospitals
Deaf with speech Deaf without speech Deaf with speech Deaf without speech
Under 20 … 3 7 17 188
20–39 73 105 81 187
40–59 533 340 177 189
60–69 586 164 62 38
70 or over … 1,091 148 35 9
Age unknown 46 3 1 …
TOTAL 2,332 767 373 611

No information is available as to the number of admissions or discharges per year, nor the age of patients at the time of admission.