HL Deb 04 December 1990 vol 524 c98

3.3 p.m.

Lord Mottistone asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they define a long-stay psychiatric patient.

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, there is no universal agreement on the definition of a long-stay patient, but government statistics on hospital activity use a stay of one year or more.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, do I understand from my noble friend that a long stay is one year or more? I did not quite hear what he said.

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, yes, that is the case.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that definition which has been long awaited. He will be aware, I am sure, that many statistics have been quoted in the past about long-stay hospitals and patients, but never before have we been given a factual definition of one year or more. I thank him.

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend; I am glad to have been of help.

Lord Ennals

My Lords, will the noble Lord accept that whatever the definition, the vast majority of long-stay patients discharged into the community greatly prefer to live in the community? Will he and his Government take more action to ensure that the present deplorable state of community care provision in local authorities is greatly improved?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I am glad that we agree on the basic principle. We feel that we are doing as much as possible through the mental illness specific grant.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, notwithstanding what the noble Lord, Lord Ennals, said, is my noble friend aware that there is still a great need for some long-stay patients to be given continuous care in an asylum?

Lord Cavendish of Furness

My Lords, I must acknowledge the noble Lord's interest and experience in this matter. The word "asylum" is not one which we would accept, but there will continue to be a need for psychiatric wards.