§ BARONESS WOOTTON OF ABINGERasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many patients have been admitted, and how many have been receiving treatment as in-patients or out-patients, in each of the past 12 months at heroin addiction centres.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (BARONESS SEROTA)The figures requested are given in the table below:
PATIENTS ATTENDING HOSPITALS IN ENGLAND FOR TREATMENT FOR ADDICTION TO HEROIN In patients Out patients Admitted during the month* In hospital at end of the month New during the month † Attending at end of the month 1969 February … 69 96 74 1,130 March … 85 98 82 1,160 April … 72 90 64 1,157 May … 91 98 78 1,171 June … 83 109 70 1,170 July … 70 95 58 1,180 August … 62 98 48 1,136 September … 73 106 66 1,158 October … 81 102 73 1,179 November … 60 111 53 1,143 December … 44 91 40 1,144 1970 … January … 67 92 59 1,074 * This is the number of admissions; some patients may be admitted more than once during the months. † These figures are inflated by the fact that some individuals were seen at more than one clinic and that others were found not to be addicted.