§ Mr. GoodladTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the mental hospitals which are scheduled to(a) open and (b) close in Scotland in each of the next seven years;
(2) how many residential places in the community will be provided for those discharged from mental hospitals in Scotland in each of the next seven years;
(3) how many new mental hospital beds have been opened in Scotland in each of the last 10 years;
(4) how many mental hospital beds have been closed in Scotland in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIt is our general policy that mentally ill people capable of living in the community should have the opportunity of doing so, but it is important that discharges from hospital should not take place before appropriate community provision is available. It is for individual local authorities to make provision for their areas in consultation with health boards and voluntary organisations.
We accept, however, that there is a need to continue to treat certain types of mental illness in a hospital setting. Suitable hospital facilities must therefore continue to be provided with the emphasis on smaller units related to the communities they serve.
I am not able to predict the mental hospital openings or closures which may take place over the next seven years. It is up to health boards to deliver services in the light of their strategic plans which in turn reflect Government's policy for the services concerned. Boards have no plans at present to build any completely new mental hospitals. Their strategic plans propose the eventual closure of some hospitals, but this would require an application to my right hon. and learned Friend for his approval.
Details of new mental hospital beds the bulk of which are replacement beds are held centrally only from 1979. The information is as follows:
Number 1979 120 1980 60 1981 60 1982 Nil 1983 432 1984 240 1985 600 1986 270 1987 120 Details of mental hospital beds closed in Scotland are held centrally only in relation to formal applications for closure made to the Secretary of State. The information, which is available only from 1979, is as follows:
402W
Number 1979 Nil 1980 Nil
Number 1981 Nil 1982 Nil 1983 Nil 1984 Nil 1985 85 1986 58 1987 87