Lord Winstanleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many psychiatric patients are at present in hospital subject to closure plans and what provision is being made for these patients; and
What provision is being made, and by whom, for residential and day care for psychiatric patients at present in hospitals subject to closure plans.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)Work is in progress in each health region 1009WA to identify places where psychiatric services should be relocated during the next 10 years, allowing the closure of an existing hospital. I shall not be in a position to list such hospitals until we receive regional health authorities' 10-year plans later this year. A closure usually requires ministerial approval and such approval will only be given if the health authority has made satisfactory plans for the provision of a comprehensive range of psychiatric services for the area formerly served by the hospital that is to be closed. These plans must cover the needs of the long-stay patients now being cared for in the hospital.
Health authorities and social service authorities are generally still considering these plans. Those which we have seen in connection with the "Care in the Community" initiative suggest that authorities appreciate the need to offer a range of provision to meet a range of individual needs. Plans may include transfer of patients who still need long-stay in-patient care to another hospital; transfer of less disabled people to a local authority home for those recovering from mental illness, or to a local authority home for elerly people; care in a suitable voluntary or private residential home or nursing home; or independent accommodation in sheltered housing, a group home, or a family home or lodgings; together with appropriate day care and support by community psychiatric nurses and social workers.