HC Deb 08 February 1965 vol 706 c1W
17. Sir C. Osborne

asked the Minister of Health how many specialised units for treating alcoholics have been established by regional hospital boards; how many patients are receiving treatment; how many are men and women, respectively, above and below 21 years of age; what is his estimate of the extent of the disease of alcoholism; what information he has about the possibilities of a cure; and if he will make a statement.

84. Mr. Park

asked the Minister of Health what action he is taking to encourage the establishment by regional hospital boards of specialised units for treating alcoholics.

Mr. K. Robinson

Regional hospital boards have been advised that treatment for alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis should, as far as possible, be given in specialised units. There are ten such units, treating about 630 patients; separate numbers for men and women are not readily available, but of about 200 in-patients about 60 are women; virtually all are over 21 years of age; no reliable estimate of the total number of alcoholics is available; a proportion of patients appear to recover, but there must always be some risk of relapse.