§ 40. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Health what mental health accommodation is provided in Cornwall for mental defectives; how many are sent to institutions outside the county; and how many are left unprovided for.
§ Miss PittThere are 174 beds for mental defectives in National Health Service hospitals in Cornwall. In addition, 21 beds are provided under contractual arrangements. During 1959, 40 patients from Cornwall were admitted to hospitals outside the county. At 31st March last, 41 patients who needed hospital care were awaiting admission.
§ Mr. HaymanIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that quite recently the Western Morning News, a Plymouth newspaper, said that there was no room in hospitals for urgent mental cases; that the Cornish waiting list was 75 per cent. higher than the rest of the West, and that mental patients in Cornwall 687 were being sent to prison because institutions were full? Will the Parliamentary Secretary comment on that and do something to improve things quickly?
§ Miss PittI have seen the cutting to which the hon. Gentleman refers. In fact, the local authority has offered to the regional hospital board some Part III accommodation recently vacated at Budock Hospital, which, I think, is in the hon. Gentleman's constituency. The board is having it inspected to see whether it is suitable for mental defectives. It is also considering a proposal to add about one hundred beds to the Langdon extension of the Royal Western Counties Hospital. I am aware that in certain cases some mental defectives may be sent to prison as a place of safety, but if they come before the courts that is the proper course to be taken and, so soon as there is hospital accommodation available, they can be transferred under orders made by the Secretary of State.