§ Mr. Patrick Maitlandasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a list of the mental hospitals in the 176W Glasgow and County of Lanark areas, respectively, showing the extent of overcrowding.
Commander GalbraithThe following table shows, for the mental hospitals in Glasgow and Lanarkshire, the extent of overcrowding based on the floor space formula which was adopted by the General Board of Control many years ago. It does not follow that overcrowding on this basis interferes with the proper care and treatment of patients, but the medical commissioners of the Board in the course of their statutory visits pay special attention to this risk, and where necessary bring it to the particular notice of the hospital authorities concerned.
Name of Hospital Number Of patients permitted by formula Number of patients resident in January, 1955 Excess number of patients Percentage excess In Glasgow: Gartloch 792 720 — — Glasgow Royal Mental 755 953 198 26 Hawkhead 1,142 1,197 55 5 Southern General (mental (wards) 180 168 — — In Lanarkshire: Hartwood 1,618 1,768 150 9