§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors are trained each year in forensic psychiatry; and how many qualified in forensic psychiatry are practising in the national health service.
§ Mr. BowisThe total number of senior registrars and registrars training in forensic psychiatry as at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, in England was 40. Approximately one quarter of these will complete training each year. The number of consultants qualified in forensic psychiatry at that time and practising in the national health service in England was 80.
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many forensic psychiatric patients have been treated in each year since 1985.
§ Mr. BowisFigures on finished consultant episodes relating to forensic psychiatry between 1988–1989 and 1991–92 for England are shown in the table. Comparable data for the years prior to 1988–89 are not available. These figures exclude patients treated in special hospitals and out-patients.
Forensic psychiatry (England—excluding special hospitals) Number of finished consultant episodes Year Number 1988–89 933 1989–90 1,020 1990–91 1,106 1991–92 1,458 Information about patients treated in special hospitals is not collected in the same form. The numbers of discharges, including deaths, from special hospitals in each year since 1985 were:
Year Number 1985 234 1986 154 1987 175 1988 196 1989 212 1990 209 1991 189 1992 220 1993 264
§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and para-medical staff are 687W qualified in forensic psychiatry and working in (a) high security units and (b) admission wards in psychiatric hospitals mental health trusts.
§ Mr. BowisThere is no specific qualification in forensic psychiatry for nursing and paramedical ward staff.