HC Deb 16 February 1988 vol 127 cc561-2W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the annual numbers of schizophrenics discharged from hospitals in the United Kingdom over the past 10 years.

Mrs. Currie

The number of discharges of patients with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia from National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units in England are shown in the table for each year since 1977. The figures refer to discharges and cannot be related to individual patients; a patient may be readmitted more than once during the year.

Year Discharges
1977 28,595
1978 25,695
1979 24,656
1980 25,280
1981 25,992
1982 24,594
1983 25,336
1984 25,934
1985 26,225
1986 26,077

Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his latest estimate for the amount of money to be spent by his Department on research into schizophrenia in the current financial year.

Mrs. Currie

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad) on 10 November 1987 at column149.