§ 11. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the overall period of waiting for treatment at the children's psychiatric unit at the Crichton Royal Mental Hospital, Dumfriesshire.
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteOf the eight children at present on the waiting list for admission for assessment, seven have been waiting for less than six months and one for 12 months. Children are admitted according to their need and not in simple chronological order. The maximum waiting period at present is about 12 months.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs that not an extremely disturbing attitude? Does it not cause the Minister concern that children needing this kind of expert medical attention are having to wait for twelve months to get it? Will the Under-Secretary take steps to extend this unit or, even better, consider establishing a similar unit in another part of Scotland?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteThe hon. Member will know that a unit is being established shortly in Dundee, but the question is one of staff as much as of accommodation.
§ Mr. BrewisWould my hon. Friend agree that this hospital is very well thought of in the area it serves? Will he say how many beds there are for psychiatric children and what is the approximate waiting time?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteIn this unit there are thirty-five beds in the psychiatric wards for children and twenty children are on the waiting list.