§ 9. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Health what response has he received to his memorandum to regional hospital boards requesting them to introduce immediately out-patient services for drug 1238 addicts and to expand in-patient services in psychiatric departments.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIn-patient services for heroin addicts are available in all, and out-patient services in 12 regional hospital board areas; the need for expansion of services is being kept under review.
§ Mrs. ShortWould my right hon. Friend agree that it is necessary to have diagnostic treatment as well as in-patient and out-patient facilities? Would he not further agree that the success of the legislation now going through the House depends on treatment centres being available all over the country? Will he give this matter his most urgent attention?
§ Mr. RobinsonYes, Sir. I agree with much of what my hon. Friend said. All out-patient clinics are linked with hospitals which provide in-patient facilities for heroin addicts.
§ Mr. BraineDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall that in answer to a similar Question last week about London hospitals he denied that any hospital had told him that the system which he proposed was unworkable? Can he now confirm or deny that certain London teaching hospitals have told him that his scheme for out-patient facilities is unlikely to work in its present form, and will be inadequate to deal with the expected number of addicts?
§ Mr. RobinsonNo, Sir. No such advice in those terms has reached me. Certainly some doctors in some London teaching hospitals have doubts about whether the scheme will succeed. None of us can be confident, as I have made abundantly clear on many occasions, but the suggestion that London teaching hospitals regard the scheme as unworkable is not confirmed by my information.
§ 10. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Health at which hospitals in England and Wales out patient and inpatient treatment is now being provided for drug addicts.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonMost mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units of general hospitals have treatment facilities for addiction to one or more types of drug.
§ Mrs. ShortIs my right hon. Friend not aware that that may be correct in 1239 theory, but it does not work out in practice? Hospitals are unwilling to take addicts. Will he see that proper centres are set up in every regional hospital board area in the country, and that round-the-clock facilities are available, because these are essential?
§ Mr. RobinsonThe figures which I have do not altogether bear out what my hon. Friend said, because in 1966 inpatient treatment for about 360 heroin addicts was given at 78 hospitals and units in England and Wales, of which 45 were in the area covered by the Metropolitan regions.
§ Mr. BraineIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that as a result of the Bill which is passing through the House the treatment of addicts by general practitioners is to cease? Is he satisfied that the facilities which now exist, and which he is hoping to set up, will be able to deal with those addicts who will no longer be able to go to a general practitioner and who will need treatment? Is he aware that if he does not fill this gap—[Interruption.]—this is a very important social question.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Even important questions should be brief.
§ Mr. RobinsonI am so satisfied. I have already made it clear that we shall not bring in the regulations prohibiting prescribing by general practitioners for addicts until we are satisfied that the hospital facilities are adequate.