HC Deb 04 December 1968 vol 774 cc1518-9
26. Miss Herbison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mentally ill adolescents there are in Scotland; how many of these are in units for adolescents only; how many are in hospital wards with adult patients; and what plans he has for the provision of proper treatment facilities for these young people.

Mr. Ross

At the end of last year there were 204 young people in the age group 15–19 receiving in-patient treatment for mental illness; of these 42 were patients in adolescent units, 14 were in psychiatric units attached to general hospitals and the remainder were in the adult wards of mental hospitals. In the current year two further adolescent units providing 34 beds have been opened giving a total provision of 76 beds. Regional hospital boards have plans for further developments, though none within the immediate future.

Miss Herbison

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Mental Welfare Commission is perturbed about the position of these young people? What advice does my right hon. Friend give to regional hospital boards in their discussions of what their priorities will be? Is there anything further he can do to ensure that these young people get the right treatment in suitable places?

Mr. Ross

I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for the interest which she has shown in this matter. On looking into the facts, I quickly realised that there was under-provision, particularly in the Western Regional Hospital Board area. Its plans are to expand Woodilee to a unit of 40 boys and 20 girls and there are other plans under consideration in respect of Stobhill, Leverndale and Gartnavel, with a possibility, if required, of further beds at Ailsa; but none of these is immediate, although we are getting on with discussions about them.

Mr. Monro

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the figures he has given are very sad and represent tragedy for some children and some parents? Will he look again at proposals for the South of Scotland, where parents at present have to travel to see their children at Larbert, which is too far away?

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the Government have doubled provision in this respect. The Western Region Hospital Board has indicated that it is prepared to consider provision of a unit at Crichton Royal, provided it can be done by adaptation and without substantial capital expenditure.