Psychiatric Patients (Hansard, 3 December 1980)

§ Sir George Young

In 1974, following the recommendations on the provision of secure accommodation made by the Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders, the then Government urged regional health authorities (RHAs) to provide regional secure units for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped. In addition, until these units became operational, RHAs were asked to make available places in each region for patients requiring treatment in conditions of security, short of that provided by the special hospitals. All RHAs were, therefore, asked to make, in conjunction with area health authorities, arrangements to designate particular hospitals to provide treatment in conditions of security until such time as proper regional secure units can be provided. However, the request to develop interim arrangements has led health authorities to develop ideas and practices, which include a range of facilities to deal with patients who need special care and treatment in a unit or ward set aside for the purpose. These welcome developments are seen as part of a continuum of care in local psychiatric services. RHAs have adopted a variety of approaches to this: there are, for instance, examples of arrangements which will cease to function—for example, when the purpose-built RSU 119W becomes operational — but others may well become permanent features in an integrated psychiatric service, even in some cases after the permanent RSU is operational. There are also local developments and some facilities which cater for patients, for instance the very severely mentally handicapped, who might not be a appropriate for an RSU but who have a need for some form of special care with security.

The most recent information from RHAs is that facilities have been established at the following hospitals:

(a) Permanent RSUs

Northern: St. Luke's Hospital, Middlesborough—(30 places).

(b) Where temporary arrangements will cease (eg on completion of the RSU)

Mersey: Rainhill Hospital, Liverpool^* — (14 places).
Mersey: Parkside Hospital, Macclesfield — (15 places).
North Western: Prestwich Hospital, Manchester^*—(65 places).

Wessex: Knowle Hospital, Fareham^*—(16 places).
West Midlands: Coleshil Hall Hospital, Birmingham—(8 places).
North Western: Calderstones Hospital, Blackburn—(13 places).
North Western: Whittingharn Hospital, Preston— (24 places).

(d) Where additional arrangements have been provided

Yorkshire: Storthey Hall Hospital; Huddersfield—(11 places).
Yorkshire: Stanley Royd Hospital, Wakefield—(6 places).
Yorkshire: High Royd; Hospital, Ilkley — (20 places).
Trent: Pastures Hospital, Derby—(4 places).
North West Thames: Leavesden Hospital, Watford—(65 places).
West Midlands: Aston Hall Hospital, Derby—(40 places).
East Anglia: Little Plumstead Hospital, Norwich—(60 places).

^* The permanent unit will be on the same site.

The total number of permanent, temporary and additional places already provided, as in the foregoing; lists, is 382. A considerably larger number of places are at various stages of building or planning in the regions. The aim is to provide in England about 1,000 places in secure units. This figure was recommended by a working patty from the Department in its revised report of 1974 which was referred to in the report of the Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders. That committee had, in its interim report of 1973, suggested the development of about 2,000 places. The Government believe that the right course now is to continue to press ahead with the programme outlined in 1974 and to consider the need for additional places in the light of experience of the units now in operation or being planned.