HC Deb 30 October 1985 vol 84 cc581-9W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with local authorities and voluntary organisations about joint funding for the care of children who have left mental hospitals.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: Local authorities and voluntary bodies, as well as health authorities, are well aware of the importance we attach to appropriate placements and support for mentally handicapped children, and to the scope for both central funding and joint finance. The policy is regularly emphasised, and specific projects are discussed with voluntary bodies. It is for district health authorities, together with local authorities and voluntary bodies, to discuss local projects and joint finance in the light of local priorities. We emphasise close collaboration in regional reviews. All proposals to use joint finance money must be recommended by the relevant joint consultative committee on which the health and local authorities and voluntary organisations are represented.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in what percentage of cases children who are released from mental hospitals return to the parental or family home.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: This information is not available centrally. It is impossible to generalise. Children who are released from mental hospitals either return to their parental or family home, or are placed in other domestic settings.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that full and adequate community care is provided for children who are released from mental hospitals.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: We have helped to finance the move to community care by making over £11 million available under our children's initiative to help both health authorities and voluntary organisations fund schemes for moving children out of hospital; by joint finance allocations to health authorities of over £100 million in 1985–86 about a third of which can be expected to be spent on mental handicap services; and by enabling health authorities to transfer funds from their ordinary budgets for as long as necessary to local authorities or voluntary organisations for patients, including children, transferred from long-stay hospitals to be cared for in the community. In addition, the national development team for mentally handicapped people and the Department's own social services inspectorate are available to advise authorities on the provision of services, and the annual ministerial reviews of regional health authorities provide an opportunity for us to look at how effectively health authorities, jointly with local authorities, are planning the shift to community care.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under which health authorities the children who leave mental hospitals are reviewed for their health, social service and educational needs.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: It is for the health authority making the new arrangements, in co-operation with the relevant local authority, to satisfy itself that a child transferred from hospital is moved into an adequate and appropriate form of community care. All authorities are expected to undertake joint, multi-disciplinary assessments of the needs of mentally handicapped children moving into community care, the aim of which should be the formulation of a programme designed to meet the child's specific health, educational, social and other needs.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children have been admitted to mental hospitals in each of the last five years; and if he will name the hospitals and their locations.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: The available information is given in the two tables. The figures in table 1 include repeated admissions for short-term care or assessment. Both tables include some admissions to small NHS units in the community.

Table 1
Admission of children under 16 years of age to NHS mental handicap hospitals and units in England, 1980–1984
All admissions First admissions Readmissions
1980 8,197 466 7,731
1981 9,090 523 8,567
1982 10,254 569 9,685
1983 12,080 659 11,421
1984 12,483 574 11,909
Table 2
NHS mental handicap hospitals and units in England which admitted children under 16 years of age during the years 1980–1984
District Health Authority Hospital
Northern Regional Health Authority
North Tees North Tees
Aysgarth
Fairbrook
West Cumbria Dovenby Hall
Darlington Aycliffe
Durham Earl's House
Northumberland Northgate
Prudhoe
South Tyneside Monkton Hall
Yorkshire Regional Health Authority
Hull Cherry Burton Hostel
Tilworth Grange
Scunthorpe Rawcliffe Hall
York Claypenny
Harrogate Whixley
Bradford Westwood
Airedale Castleberg
Calderdale Stansfield View
Huddersfield Storthes Hall
The Mansion, Huddersfield
Leeds Eastern Meanwood Park
District Health Authority Hospital
Wakefield Fieldhead
Trent Regional Health Authority
North Derbyshire Ridgeway
Whittington Hall
Dronfield
Amberley House
Southern Derbyshire Bingham House Hostel
Aston Hall
Leicestershire The Glenfrith Group
North Lincolnshire Harmston Hall
Caistor
South Lincolnshire Norton Lea
Fleet
Bassetlaw Bassetlaw District General
Central Nottinghamshire
Nottingham City (Sandfield Children's Unit Highbury
Doncaster St. Catherine's, Doncster
Rotherham Rotherham District General
Sheffield Greenacres Hostel
Ryegate Centre
St. Josephs
Hilltop Hostel
Mill Brook Hostel
Lightwood House
Arbourthorne Hostel
Rivermead MH Unit
East Anglian Regional Health Authority
Cambridge Ida Darwin
Peterborough Gloucester Centre
West Suffolk Risbridge
East Suffolk St. Clements, Ipswich
Jane Walker
Norwich Little Plumstead
Great Yarmouth Lothingland
West Norfolk & Wisbech Windsor Unit (West Norfolk and Wisbech)
North West Thames Regional Health Authority
North Bedfordshire Bromham
North West Hertfordshire Cell Barnes
Harperbury
South West Hertfordshire Leavesden
Barnet Winifred House
Brent Kingsbury
Paddington MH Unit, 291 Harrow Road
North East Thames Regional Health Authority
Basildon & Thurrock South Ockendon
Mid Essex Bridge
North East Essex The Royal Eastern Counties Group
Barking, Havering and Brent High Wood
wood
Little Warley Lodge
City and Hackney St. Leonard's (Penrose House)
Tower Hamlets Mildmay Mission
Enfield Enfield (Chase Farm)
Waltham Forest Leytonstone House
South East Thames Regional Health Authority
Brighton Foredown
Pouchlands
Hastings Hill House
Mount Pleasant
South East Kent Eversley House
Canterbury and Thanet Lanthorne
Highland Court
Eastry
Dartford & Gravesham Darenth Park
Maidstone Lenham
Tunbridge Wells Leybourne Grange
Greenwich Goldie Leigh
Bromley Cheyne
District Health Authority Hospital
Lewisham & North Grove Park
Southwark
South West Thames Regional Health Authority
North West Surrey Botleys Park
Brook House
West Surrey & North East Northfield
Hants
South West Surrey King George V
Royal Hostel Elstead
Mid Surrey The Manor, Epsom
East Surrey Royal Earlswood
Mid Downs Forest
Goddards Green
Worthing Southlands
Croydon St. Lawrence's Caterham
Richmond, Twickenahm & Roehampton Queen Mary's Roehampton
Normansfield
Wandsworth Gardiner Hill Unit
Merton and Sutton Ellen Terry Home
Osborne house
Queen Mary's Hospital for Children
St. Ebba's
Southside Home
The Turret
Daffodil House
Wessex Regional Health Authority
East Dorset The Oakes, Bournemouth
Castle Hill House
West Dorset Coldharbour
Henchard House
Portsmouth Coldeast
Bursledon Tatchbury Mount
Winchester Bereweeke House Hostel
Bishopstoke House
The Old Rectory
Basingstoke Darlington House
Erdersley House
Salisbury Hillcote Hostel
Swindon The Lanterns
Burderop
Pewsey
Bath Amberley Unit
Beaumonds
Winsley Centre
Isle of Wight St. Mary's
Castle View
Oxford Regional Health Authority
East Berkshire Church Hill House
Clarefield Court
West Berkshire Wayland House
Borocourt
Aylsbury Manor House
Kettering Rushden
Northampton Princess Marina
Oxfordshire Bradwell Grove
Hernes House
Holy rood House
South Western Regional Health Authority
Bristol and Weston Farleigh
Yatton Hall
Frenchay Stoke Park
Southmead Hortham
Brentry
Cornwall Budock
Loreto House
The Retreat
St. Blazey for Children
West Heath House
Carn Brea House
Exeter Royal Western Counties, Starcross
Langdon
District Health Authority Hospital
North Devon Kingsley
Plymouth Tamar House
Torbay Steepway Hostel
Rosehill Childrens
Cheltenham Windrush
Gloucester Cransmoor
Selsley Vicarage
Thirlstaine Court
West Lodge Drive
Holly Brooke House
Standish
Twyver Unit
Somerset Sandhill Park
Norah Fry House
Selwood House
West Midlands Regional Health Authority
Hereford Dean Hill
1 Ledbury Rd, Hereford
Kidderminster Lea
Lea Castle
Salop Beeches, Telford
Mid-Staffordshire White Lodge
North Staffordshire Stallington
North Warwickshire Chelmsley
Coleshall Hall
South Warwickshire Weston
Abbeyfields
South Birmingham Monyhull
Coventry The Birches
Dudley Ridge Hill
Solihull Middlefield
Walsall St. Margaret's, Birmingham
Coventry M H Service, Princethorpe
Number of children under 16 years of age resident in mental handicap hospitals and units in England at 31 December
Regional health authority 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Small NHS units in the community* Other NHS MH hospitals and units
Northern 180 153 118 90 10 70
Yorkshire 181 150 133 98 5 63
Trent 243 198 162 123 14 86
East Anglian 91 85 68 56 32
North-West Thames 137 115 85 61 52
North-East Thames 132 114 90 61 12 57
South-East Thames 180 153 125 108 27 88
South-West Thames 228 190 145 80 2 66
Wessex 236 209 190 180 124 29
Oxford 164 122 112 92 7 66
South Western 188 155 132 116 73 33
West Midlands 213 156 139 122 24 59
Mersey 124 104 59 36 28
North Western 124 90 71 51 35 12
Total—England 2,421 1,994 1,629 1,274 333 741
* Separate figures for these units were collected for the first time in 1984. Most residents in these units will have been included in the totals in previous years.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the numbers of children in each of the last five years who have ceased to be included in statistics as children in mental hospitals because they reached the age of 16 years.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: This information is not available centrally. Young

District Health Authority Hospital
Mersey Regional Health Authority
Crewe Barony
Cranage Hall
Halton Crow Wood
Macclesfield Mary Dendy
Warrington Newchurch
Liverpool Rathbone
Olive Mount Children's
Southport & Formby Greaves Hall
Wirral Ashton House
North Western Regional Health Authority
Lancaster Royal Albert
Blackburn, Hyndburn & Brockhall
Ribble Valley Eshton Terrace
Burnley Pendle & Calderstones
Rossendale
West Lancashire Ormskirk Children's
Bolton Childrens MH Unit. Bolton
Rochdale Scott House
Salford Swinton
Stockport Cherry Tree
Offerton House
Tameside & Glossop The Willows, Droylesden

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the record for each regional health authority, in each of the past five years, of releasing children from mental hospitals.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: The table shows, for each region, the changes in the number of children resident in mental handicap hospitals and units at 31 December in the years 1980–1984. The figures include children admitted for short-term care or assessment.

people aged 16 and over are also being moved out of hospital, either as part of the children's initiative or as part of the wider shift to community care.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the change over the last five years in the number of children under the age of 16 years who are in mental hospitals.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: The available informatio00000n for England is given in the table. The figures include children in hospital for short-term care or assessment.

Number of children under 16 years of age resident in NHS mental handicap hospitals and units in England at 31 December
Small NHS units providing community provision for mentally handicapped* Other NHS mental handicap hospitals and units Total
1980 2,421
1981 1,994
1982 1,629
1983 1,274
1984 333 741 1,074
* Separate figures for these units were collected for the first time in 1984. Most residents in these units will have been included in the totals in previous years.
Not available.
Provisional figures.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date he estimates that all children will be removed from long-stay mental handicap hospitals.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: It is not at this stage possible to make such an estimate. Health authorities are well aware of the need to

Children under 16 years of age resident in mental handicap hospitals and hospital units with 25 or more beds at 31 December 1984
Regional Health Authority District Health Authority Hospitals & Hospital units with 25 or more beds Number of resident children under 16 years of age
Northern North Tees Aysgarth inc Fairbrook 11
West Cumbria Dovenby Hall 8
Darlington Aycliffe 8
Durham Earl's House 26
Northumberland Prudhoe 13
Northgate and District 4
Yorkshire Hull Brandesburton 10
Tilworth Grange 6
Scunthorpe Rawcliffe Hall 4
York Claypenny 11
Bradford Westwood 6
Airedale Castleberg 1
Calderdale Stansfield View 4
Leeds Eastern Meanwood Park 9
Wakefield Fieldhead 12
Trent Leicestershire Glenfrith 14
Nth Lincolnshire Harmston Hall 10
Caistor 4
Sth Lincolnshire St Peters 1
Norton Lea 1
Central Notts. Balderton 7
Nottingham Nottingham City 13
Doncaster St Catherines 2
Rotherham Rotherham Dist. General 9
Sheffield Rivermead Unit 1
East Anglian Cambridge Ida Darwin 11
Peterborough Gloucester Centre 3
East Suffolk Banbury House 8
Norwich Little Plumstead 6
Gt Yarmouth & Waveney Lothingland 4
N W Thames Nth Bedfordshire Bromham 5
N W Hertfordshire Harperbury 5

keep under review all the remaining long-stay mentally handicapped children in hospital wards and to make plans for their placement in small locally based units run by the health or local authority, or the voluntary sector, or in their own homes with appropriate support. It would not be helpful to set universally applicable dates for the closure of children's wards. It is important to get children out of long-stay hospital placements, but it is more important to ensure that they are going into more appropriate and better provision, and centrally imposed deadlines may well prove more hindrance than help in achieving this.

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under the age of 16 years are in mental hospitals with 25 or more beds; if he will name the hospitals and their locations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitney

[pursuant to his reply, 28 October 1985, c. 381]: There were 656 children under 16 years of age resident in NHS mental handicap hospitals and hospital units in England with 25 or more available beds at 31 December 1984. The hospitals and hospital units are listed in the table. The figures include children in hospital for short-term care or assessment. It is encouraging to note the success of the Government's children's initiative in reducing the number of mentally handicapped children in hospital and we will continue to do all we can to ensure that progress continues.

Regional Health Authority District Health Authority Hospitals & Hospital units with 25 or more beds Number of resident children under 16 years of age
Cell Barnes 23
S W Hertfordshire Leavesden 5
Barnet Winifred House 5
N E Thames Basildon & Thurrock South Ockendon inc Duvals Hostel 10
Mid Essex Bridge 7
N E Essex Royal Eastern Counties 17
Barking, Havering and Brentwood Highwood 9
Enfield Chase Farm 11
Waltham Forest Leytonstone House 3
S E Thames Brighton Foredown 5
Hastings Mount Pleasant 4
South East Kent Eversley House 15
Canterbury & Thanet Lanthorne 4
Eastry 1
Dartford & Gravesham Darenth Park 16
Tunbridge Wells Leybourne Grange 5
Greenwich Goldie Leigh 15
Bromley Cheyne 23
S W Thames N W Surrey Botleys Park 2
Mid Surrey The Manor, Epsom 3
E Surrey Royal Earlswood and Earlswood Home 10
Mid Downs Forest 13
Croydon St Lawrences 4
Richmond Queen Mary's 18
Twickenham & Roehampton Normansfield 1
Wessex Portsmouth Cold East 5
Sandy Point 5
Southampton & S W Hampshire Whitehouse 1
Oxford East Berkshire Church Hill House 6
Clarefield Court 5
West Berkshire Borocourt 15
Wayland 2
Aylesbury Manor House 7
Northampton Princess Marina 24
S Western Bristol & Weston Farleigh and Yatton 8
Frenchay Stoke Park 15
South Mead Hortham 2
W Midlands Kidderminster & District Lea Castle 13
Lea 2
Nth Staffordshire Stallington 3
Nth Warwickshire Chelmsley 2
Sth Warwickshire Weston 9
Dudley Ridgehill 8
Walsall St Margarets 18
Mersey Crewe Crange Hall 6
Halton Crow Wood 4
Warrington Newchurch 2
Liverpool Eastern Olive Mount Children's 14
Southport & Formby Greaveshall 2
N Western Lancaster Royal Albert 6
Ribble Valley Blackburn, Hyndburn & Ribble Valley Brochall 1
Burnley, Pendle & Rossendale Calderstones 2
Salford Swinton 3