§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are currently admitted to mental illness hospitals and units under compulsory powers with a diagnosis of schizophrenia; how many of those admitted informally were subsequently detained as formal patients; and what percentage they constituted of all patients admitted or subsequently detained under compulsory power.
§ Mr. FreemanFigures relating diagnosis to legal status, either on admission or before discharge, are not available.
However in 1986, the latest year for which reliable diagnostic figures are available, there were 24,741 admissions, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units in England. This represents 12.5 per cent. of all admissions into these hospitals and units. The figures may exceed the number of patients since the same individual may be admitted and discharged more than once during the year.