HC Deb 09 April 1975 vol 889 cc427-9W
Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what period the regional addiction unit for the Trent Regional Health Authority at the Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham, has been closed.

Dr. Owen:

The regional addiction unit at Mapperly Hospital has been closed since 18th July 1974.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what facilities are available in the region for in-treatment for alcoholics in the Leicester area during the period when the addiction unit at the Mapperly Hospital, Nottingham, has been closed;

(2) how many patients from the Leicester area were treated at the regional addiction unit at the Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham, during the last 12 months for which records are available; of these how many were alcoholics; and what was their average period of hospitalisation at the unit.

Dr. Owen:

In the Leicester Area Health Authority, as elsewhere, the majority of alcoholics are treated in the general wards of mental illness hospitals: in-patient treatment is available at Carlton Hayes Hospital, Narborough, Leicester, and Towers Hospital, Humberstone, Leicester. Only six patients from the Leicester area, of whom three were alcoholics, were treated in the regional addiction unit at Mapperley Hospital in the 12 months to July 1974: the average period of treatment in the unit was six weeks. No special arrangements, therefore, were made for the period when this unit has been closed.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the 36 beds at the addiction unit at Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham, were on average vacant during the last 12-month period for which records are available; how many of these were occupied by drug addicts; how many were occupied by alcoholics; and if there was a waiting list of alcoholics, what was its average size.

Dr. Owen:

In this period, which includes the time when the unit was being run down prior to closure, nine of the 36 beds were out of use, the average occupancy of the remaining 27 beds was 16. On average 10 per cent. of these beds were occupied by drug addicts and 90 per cent. by alcoholics. There was no waiting list for alcoholics.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services for what reason the consultant psychiatrist in charge of the Mapperley addiction unit departed; what steps have been taken to replace him; and when this replacement will take effect.

Dr. Owen:

The consultant psychiatrist in charge of the regional addiction unit at Mapperley Hospital left to take up another consultant post. The vacant post was advertised in June and September 1974 and in January this year. An appointment has now been made and the consultant psychiatrist is likely to take up the post within two or three months.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long after the appointment of a consultant psychiatrist to take charge of the addiction unit at Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham, it will be before the unit can be reopened.

Dr. Owen:

There should be no delay in reopening the unit once the consultant psychiatrist has taken up his post.