§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health how many patients at the Star-cross and Calderstones mental hospitals who have been reclassified from being compulsorily detained to informal patients have been at these hospitals for over 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively; and what is the longest period that a patient now reclassified as informal has been compulsorily detained in a mental hospital.
§ Mr. PowellThe cumulative totals are 943, 758 and 471 at Starcross and 1,220, 979 and 755 at Calderstones. The answer to the second part of the question is 46 years.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health how many of the 1,040 patients at the Starcross and of the 1,323 patients at the Calderstones mental hospitals who are now classified as informal patients could leave these hospitals if suitable homes or hostels could be found for them.
§ Mr. PowellI regret I can offer no estimate.