§ 17 and 18. Mr. Moonmanasked the Minister of Health (1) how many male and female patients aged 20 years and over were admitted to mental illness hospitals and units, including teaching hospitals, during 1966 and what was the rate for each sex per 100,000 of the population for the same age group;
§ (2) how many male and female patients, aged 20 years and over, were discharged from mental illness hospitals and units, including teaching hospitals, during 1966: and what was the rate for each sex per 100,000 of the population for the same age group.
§ Mr. MoonmanI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he state what steps he is taking to improve mental health in communities where the rate is far in excess of the national average? 21 Also will he say something about the need for improved community care, because of the great increase in discharges?
§ Mr. SnowI think the figures will indicate the general improvement in care that is being provided, as evidenced by the fact that there has been a steady decline over the past few years in the total hospital population covering mental illness 2nd the patients for this type of
| MENTAL ILLNESS HOSPITALS AND UNITS (INCLUDING TEACHING HOSPITALS) 1966 PATIENTS AGED 20 AND OVER | |||||||
| Males | Females | Total | |||||
| Nuumber | Rate per 100,000 Population | Number | Rate per 100,000 Population | Number | Rate per 100,000 Population | ||
| Admissions* | … | 65,675 | 415 | 95,828 | 549 | 161,503 | 485 |
| Discharges and transfers | … | 59,391 | 375 | 86,775 | 497 | 146,166 | 439 |
| Discharges, transfers and deaths | … | 66,771 | 422 | 97,386 | 557 | 164,157 | 493 |
| * Includes transfers from psychiatric beds in other hospitals and units. |