Special Hospitals

HC Deb 06 December 1982 vol 33 cc386-9W

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out a full breakdown of the number of patients in each of the special hospitals who are awaiting transfer to National Health Service hospitals by age, sex, time waiting and the hospital in which they are currently located.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The information, as at 30 November 1982, is as follows:

		Period of waiting
Hospital	Age	Under 1 Year	1–2 years	Over 2 years	Total
		Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Total
	21–30	7	1	3	—	2	—	12	1	13
	31–40	7	3	7	—	—	—	14	3	17
	41–50	4	1	1	2	1	—	6	3	9
	51–60	3	—	—	—	—	—	3	—	3
	Over 60	1	—	—	2	1	—	2	2	4
	Total	23	5	11	4	4	1	38	10	48
Park Lane	20 and under	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	21–30	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1
	31–40	1	—	1	—	—	—	2	—	2
	41–50	3	—	2	—	1	—	6	—	6
	51–60	2	—	—	—	1	—	3	—	3
	Over 60	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1
	Total	8	—	3	—	2	—	13	—	13
Grand Total		70	17	45	12	37	19	152	48	200

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how many patients each of the special hospitals is overcrowded; and what are the consequences that flow from this.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The total number of patients in special hospitals has fallen significantly in recent years. All four hospitals now have sufficient accommodation for present patient numbers without the serious overcrowding that has been a problem in the past. At Broadmoor hospital there are some ward and dormitory areas where further reduction in numbers is highly desirable. This will be achieved as additional beds are commissioned at the new Park Lane hospital.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which National Health Service hospitals have refused to take patients from the special hospitals.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The admission of patients to NHS hospitals is a matter for the clinical judgment of the consultant concerned. Requests to admit patients from

	Male	Female
National Health Service, Region etc.	Under 1 year	1–2 years	Over 2 years	Under 1 year	1–2 years	Over 2 years	Total
Northern	6	4	4	1	—	—	15
Yorkshire	4	1	4	1	—	1	11
Trent
(1) Eastdale Unit*	6	7	1	—	—	—	14
(2) Other NHS hospitals	2	4	4	2	3	1	16
East Anglia	1	1	—	1	—	—	3
North West Thames	4	3	—	—	1	1	9
North East Thames	3	4	5	—	1	3	16
South East Thames	10	2	4	1	—	6	23
South West Thames	3	2	3	—	—	1	9
Wessex	1	1	1	2	2	—	7
Oxford	3	1	1	1	—	1	7
South Western	4	4	4	—	1	3	16
West Midlands	9	2	2	4	2	1	20
Mersey	4	3	—	1	—	1	9
North Western	5	1	1	3	1	—	11
Wales	5	4	2	—	1	—	12
Scotland	—	—	1	—	—	—	1

special hospitals, like applications for admission from other sources, are considered on their merits in the light of all relevant factors.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the number and ages of any juveniles or adolescents in the special hospitals.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

At 30 November 1982 six mentally disordered patients under age 18 were detained under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1959 in special hospitals on account of their dangerous, violent or criminal propensities. One is aged 14 years, one 15 years and four 17 years.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) male and (b) female patients are currently awaiting transfer from special hospitals to National Health Service hospitals by location and length of wait; and if he will make a full statement of progress so far.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The information, as at 30 November 1982, is as follows, by reference to the region and so on to which transfer is being sought.

	Male	Female
National Health Service, Region etc.	Under 1 year	1–2 years	Over 2 years	Under 1 year	1–2 years	Over 2 years	Total
Northern Ireland	—	1	—	—	—	—	1
GRAND TOTAL	70	45	37	17	12	19	200

^* The Eastdale Unit, sited at Balderton Hospital, Newark, is a national rehabilitation unit for former special hospital patients.

So far this year 116 special hospital patients have been transferred to local NHS hospitals. The position has been adversely affected by difficulty in obtaining admissions to some NHS hospitals because of industrial action. The situation is being kept under review and further efforts will be made to reduce the length of time special hospital patients have to wait for transfer.