§ 21. Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that the medical staff to patient ratios in the Warley and Runwell psychiatric hospitals in Essex are 1.08 and 1.76 respectively, compared to Oxford where it is 2.75 ; and what plans he has to rectify this position.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyYes, Sir. These are the ratios per hundred in-patients. The national average is 1.49. The ratio of medical staff to in-patients is not a reliable indicator of the standard of psychiatric hospital care.
§ Mr. MoonmanWould my hon. Friend not agree that a common theme of the reports and inquiries on the mental health service is the highlighting of the importance of the staff-patient ratio? I repeat, therefore, what sort of help and advice can he give to these two very fine hospitals, which, I maintain, are still under-staffed?
§ Dr. DunwoodyI accept what my hon. Friend says, but he must remember that certain psychiatric forms of treatment require a very much higher number of skilled medical staff than do other sorts. This explains some of the differences. In this case the management committee has applied to the board to appoint further medical staff. This is under consideration and if the board proposes this to my Department, we will consider it very seriously.