HC Deb 05 June 1967 vol 747 cc119-20W
Mr. Pardoe

asked the Minister of Health how many patients were diagnosed in 1959, 1962 and 1965 as suffering from alcoholism when admitted to mental hospitals; whatpercentage of total admissions this represents; and how the readmission ratio of alcoholic patients compares with that of mental patients as a whole.

Mr. K. Robinson

Admissions with a primary diagnosis of alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis were about, 2,000 in 1959, 3,700 in 1962 and 5,400 in 1964, representing about 2 per cent., 3 per cent. and 3.3 per cent. respectively of all admissions to mental illness hospitals and units. The proportion of second and subsequent admissions to total admissions was in 1959 and 1962 about the same for these patients as for mental patients as a whole, and rather higher in 1964. The figures for 1964 cover more hospitals than those for the earlier years. Figures for 1965 are not available.