§ 60. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health how many of the patients compulsorily detained at the Darenth Hospital, who are well enough to leave if suitable arrangements could be made, are employed in the Darenth Park Hospital, or neighbouring hospitals; what is the average weekly payment made to them in this respect; and to what extent the issue to them of tobacco and sweets is related to the work they do.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithSixty-eight. The average weekly payment is 10s. 9d., and no part of it is made in kind.
§ 62. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons a list of the names and ages of the 125 patients com-pulsorily detained in the Darenth Park Mental Hospital, who could leave if suitable accommodation could be found for them in homes or hostels away from the atmosphere of a mental hospital.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithNo, since it is essential that the medical affairs of individual patients should be treated as strictly confidential.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThere were 1,648 on 11th April, including 83 non-resident patients.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health the weekly cost, per patient, at the Darenth Park Mental Hospital.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe weekly cost per patient in the year ended 31st March, 1959, was £6 11s. 3d.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health the total amount of money held by the Darenth Park Hospital authorities on behalf of those patients who, although 161W they are well enough to leave the hospital, have to remain there because of the absence of suitable alternative provision elsewhere than in a mental hospital.
§ Mr. Walker-Smith£2,860.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health the maximum weekly contribution made by any of those people to their upkeep who, although compulsorily detained at the Darenth Park Hospital because of the absence of other accommodation, are allowed to follow normal employment in the outside world.
§ Mr. Walker-Smith£3 15s.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health, in respect of the patients who could leave Darenth Park Hospital if other suitable accommodation was available, the ages of the youngest and oldest person; and the longest period spent by any of these people in institutions and mental hospitals combined, in view of the fact that some children have, through no fault of their own, been in institutions since early childhood.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe youngest of these patients is 17 and the oldest 62 years old; the longest period any of them has spent in institutions and hospitals is 53 years.