§ Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Health how many patients were admitted to mental illness hospitals in 1956 and 1966, respectively; how many new outpatients and day patients were seen; how many in-patients there were and what proportion was compulsorily detained;
86Wwhat was the average length of stay of those discharged; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonBetween 1956 and 1966 admissions of in-patients rose from about 83,000 to 164,000, numbers of new out-patients from 127,000 to 180,000 and new day patients from a few thousand to 16,000. In-patients resident at the end of the years declined from 150,000 to 126,000; the proportion of detained patients from 70 per cent, to 8 per cent; and the average length of stay of those discharged from 100 days to 69 days.