HC Deb 19 July 1977 vol 935 cc535-6W
Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many general hospital psychiatric units were opened in 1976–77 in Wales.

Mr. Barry Jones

None.

Mr. Anderson

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the rate of progress in opening general hos- pital psychiatric units and the run-down of special psychiatric hospitals in Wales.

Mr. Barry Jones

Area health authorities and the Welsh Office are doing everything possible towards the attainment of the long-term objectives set out in the White Paper on "Better Services for the Mentally Ill" (Cmnd 6233). We have recommended that improvement of services for the mentally ill should take priority second only to care for the elderly. It will take time to run down the eight large mental hospitals in Wales, but the number of patients in them has already been reduced significantly.