§ Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health the number of patients who attended psychiatric out-patient departments of hospitals annually for each of the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. TurtonThe numbers of new out-patients attending mental illness and mental deficiency consultative clinics at hospitals were: 1952, 107,689; 1953, 111,326; 1954, 119,723. The figure for 1955 is not yet available.
§ Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied with existing provision for out-patient care for sufferers from psychiatric disorders; and what are the number of consultant psychiatrists, other medical staff, and psychiatric social workers employed by hospitals in psychiatric out-patient departments and the number of consultant psychiatrists available for domiciliary consultations with general practitioners.
§ Mr. TurtonI consider that this service is developing satisfactorily. Hospital returns do not distinguish staff employed on out-patient services from those employed on in-patient services, but the numbers of consultant and senior hospital medical officer psychiatrists in contract with Regional Hospital Boards at the end of 1954 for domiciliary visits were 469 and 147.