§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many beds suitable for psychogeriatric patients are presently available in Bournemouth hospitals;
(2) how many beds suitable for psycho-geriatric patients there are per 1,000 of the population in Bournemouth hospitals; and how that figure compares with the numbers available in each of the regional health authority areas.
§ Dr. OwenMeaningful figures cannot be given as patients in the East Dorset Health District, and in other districts in the Wessex Region, suffering from mental illness related to old age are at present treated mainly in mental illness and long-stay hospitals.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the persons who have made representations to her Department concerning the shortage of beds suitable for psychogeriatric patients in Bournemouth hospitals.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps her Department proposes to take to alleviate the present shortage of beds suitable for psychogeriatric patients in Bournemouth hospitals.
§ Dr. OwenDorset Area Health Authority, in common with all other health authorities, has been urged to give priority, within the limits of available resources, to improving hospital services for patients suffering from mental illness relating to old age.
The AHA is developing the Royal Victoria Hospital, Gloucester Road, Bournemouth, as a unit for such patients. A temporary 30-place day hospital has recently been provided, pending completion by about April 1977 of a purpose-built 30-place day hospital; 14 assessment beds and 18 long-stay support beds will also be provided at that time.