HC Deb 24 June 1974 vol 875 cc381-2W
Mr. Alan Lee Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she

REGIONAL HOSPITAL BOARD MENTAL ILLNESS HOSPITALS AND UNITS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
1970 1971 1972
Staff per 100 resident patients Highest region Lowest region Highest region Lowest region Highest region Lowest region
Consultants psychiatry(l) 1.05 0.50 1.12 0.51 1.37 0.53
All Medical Staff 3.35 1.35 3.45 1.38 3.99 1.70
Qualified nurses(2) 24.5 18.0 25.2 17.9 31.4 19.4
Other nurses 18.6 10.8 20.7 11.0 24.6 13.4
Total nurses 43.1 29.0 45.9 29.9 56.0 32.7
Psychologists 0.60 0.14 0.55 0.19 0.81 0.20
Social Workers 0.90 0.21 0.91 0.29 1.08 0.35
Therapists (Physio, speech, chiropodists, etc.) N.A. N.A. 0.25 0.06 0.34 0.06
Therapists Rehabilitative (Occupational, industrial, work therapy, handicrafts, etc.) N.A. N.A. 2.01 1.00 2.29 1.24
Total therapists N.A. N.A. 2.16 1.14 2.43 1.40
Ward orderlies and domestics 8.7 3.7 8.7 5.3 10.2 6.6
(1) Consultants in mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, and mental handicap.
(2) Registered and enrolled nurses.

Mr. Christopher Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made by the regional

will initiate a re-examination of the recommendations of the Seebohm Report, in particular as they relate to the philosophy of generic social work.

Dr. Owen

The recommendations of the Seebohm Report were intended to lead to a single, integrated service which could respond to the needs of families and local communities. This implied a greater degree of shared basic training among social workers, but it is not a necessary corollary that specialism in particular aspects of the service should not also be developed. It is my impression that practice in the field generally, and in social work training, is now attempting to strike a more sensible balance in this matter.