Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many places for adults and children, respectively, are available for the treatment of epilepsy in units provided by regional hospital boards, local authorities and private bodies, respectively; and what was the comparable number of places five years ago.
§ Mr. CrossmanThere are at present no hospital units exclusively for the treatment16W of epilepsy, but facilities for diagnosis, assessment and treatment are widely available in the hospital service.
A survey in 1967 showed that there were 275 patients with epilepsy in two hospitals exclusively concerned with long-term care, places for about 1,350 residents with epilepsy in 5 colonies run by voluntary bodies and 600 places in 2 colonies run by local authorities. Comparable figures for earlier years are not available. Places are not specifically reserved for people with epilepsy in other establishments but the total number of people with epilepsy receiving care and attention in local authority and voluntary homes at 31st December (including the colonies) was as follows:
1963 1968 In local authority homes 1,814 1,961 In voluntary homes 1,317 1,252