§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients waited (a) less than one month, (b) one or two months, (c) two to three months, (d) three to four months and (e) more than four months between the date of the patient's application for a mental health review tribunal and the date of the hearing during 1977, 1978 and 1979.
§ Sir George YoungThe information related to the first hearing of the case by a tribunal is as follows:
early in 1979 have been overcome. I am satisfied that at present the support services which the Department provides are adequate to deal with the work of the mental health review tribunals.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients withdrew their applications to mental health review tribunals in 1977, 773W 1978 and 1979; how many of these were special hospital patients; and how many were considered by the tribunal clerks to be withdrawn for unacceptable reasons.
§ Sir George YoungThe information is as follows:
Withdrawals By special hospital patients 1977 … 43 5 1978 … 51 10 1979 … 46 6 I understand that, after investigation, in accordance with the wishes of the tribunal chairman concerned, no applications were considered to have been withdrawn for unacceptable reasons.
Applications Total Special Hospitals Broadmoor Moss Side Park Lane Rampton 1976 … … 487 25 73 — 115 1977 … … 488 44 48 3 118 1978 … … 490 26 56 3 108 References 1976 … … 356 81 63 5 158 1977 … … 378 85 63 9 166 1978 … … 351 87 58 11 138 The number of applications determined during 1976, 1977 and 1978 and, of those, the number in which the tribunal discharged the patient, were as follows:
Applications determined Patients discharged 1976 … … 393 48 1977 … … 428 80 1978 … … 367 74 There are a number of cases in which, before an application can be determined, the patient ceases to be detainable under the Act.
Information on the number of reclassifications cannot be obtained without disproportionate work, but the numbers are thought to be low.