§ 65. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Health the existing hospital accommodation for mentally defective children in County Durham; how many children are awaiting admission; the average waiting time; what is being done to improve the position; and, whether he will give separate figures for the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees.
§ Mr. R. ThompsonNo specific number of beds is allocated, but there are 408 children in the two mental deficiency hospitals serving Durham, and the number awaiting admission is 67 from the County including 7 from Stockton. No average figure for waiting time is available; it would in any case be misleading as children are admitted according to the urgency of the case. One of the two hospitals concerned is being greatly extended, and additional accommodation has recently been provided at the other.