HC Deb 18 July 1988 vol 137 cc773-4
6. Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the number of mentally-ill patients in Wales who have spent more than three months in (a) mental hospitals and (b) psychiatric wards in general hospitals.

Mr. Grist

On 5 April 1987, the latest date for which this information is available, there were 2,680 patients in mental illness hospitals and units in Wales who had been resident for more then three months. Equivalent information is not available centrally in respect of patients cared for in general hospitals.

Mr. Wardell

Does the Minister accept that Wales has one of the worst statistical records for the percentage of mentally-ill patients who are treated in general hospitals' psychiatric wards, as opposed to hospitals for the mentally ill in the Principality? The World Health Organisation has clearly pointed out that fact. What measures is the Minister taking to correct that imbalance and to remove the stigma that so many of our people suffer by being treated in mental] illness hospitals? For example, in West Glamorgan there is not a single bed in a psychiatric general hospital for the treatment of the mentally ill.

Mr. Grist

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that, unfortuntely, mental illness still carries with it considerable stigma. That must change if we are to make a success of developing those locally based services of which I spoke earlier. That is our determination, and I think that that answers the hon. Gentleman's point.

Mr. Anderson

Does the Minister share our concern that the poll tax may be the deciding factor in forcing families no longer to accommodate mentally-ill members of their own family, thus not only breaking up families, but increasing the burden on our psychiatric hospitals? How does the Minister reconcile the increased burden of the poll tax with the Government's professed aim of keeping mentally-ill people in the community?

Mr. Grist

The hon. Gentleman will know that the sort of people of whom he speaks will be disabled and therefore will not pay the poll tax.

Mr. John

Does the Minister recognise that we all share the desire for a number of people in mental hospitals to be discharged into the community, but that that is not a cheap option? Can he tell me how much has been paid for the care and support of such people within the community following the Government's initiative, and how many places have been created within the community as a result of that initiative?

Mr. Grist

I am not able to give the exact figures, but the hon. Gentleman is right: it is not a cheap option. According to the figures that I have, we are spending some £110 million a year on mental illness services, £65 million of which goes on the nine large hospitals in Wales.