HC Deb 30 July 1957 vol 574 cc1055-6
35. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many elderly patients in mental hospitals died within one week of entrance and how many within one month of entrance to hospital, in the most recent period for which he has statistics.

Mr. Maclay

Of 2,258 patients of 65 and over admitted in 1956, 98 died within one week and 449 within one month.

Miss Herbison

Although less stigma is attached these days to being a patient in a mental hospital, will not the Minister agree that these figures show that many old people who have never previously been in a mental institution are now passing their last few days or weeks of life in a mental hospital? Is not that quite wrong? Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to ensure that there is hospital accommodation, perhaps halfway houses, for such old people?

Mr. Maclay

I should like to consider very carefully what the hon. Lady has said because I have great sympathy with what she has in mind.