HC Deb 16 March 1962 vol 655 cc197-8W
Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hospital orders restricting discharge under Section 65 of the Mental Health Act, 1959, have been made since the Act came into force; how many were of indefinite duration; what periods of restriction were imposed in respect of the remainder; how many of these restriction orders have been subsequently waived; and in how many instances the patient has been discharged.

Mr. R. A. Butler

According to the latest information, 185 orders restricting discharge have been made by courts under Section 65 of the Mental Health Act, 1959; 108 of these were made without limit of time and in 77 orders the following periods of restriction were specified:

Period of restriction No. of orders
6 months … … … 1
12 months … … … 10
18 months … … … 2
2 years … … … 18
3 years … … … 11
5 years … … … 20
6 years … … … 1
7 years … … … 3
10 years … … … 4
12 years … … … 1
15 years … … … 3
25 years … … … 1
30 years … … … 1
40 years … … … 1

Of the patients subject to these orders, three have been freed from restrictions and nine have been discharged while the restrictions were in force.