HC Deb 03 March 1975 vol 887 cc327-8W
Mr. Clemitson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many psychosurgical operations were carried out in NHS hospitals in 1974 and in each of the 10 previous years.

Dr. Owen

Information an psychosurgical operations, obtained from the Hospital In-patient Inquiry, is available only for the years 1966 to 1972 and is as follows:

Year Estimated Numbers (England and Wales)
1966 380
1967 240
1968 200
1969 230
1970 280
1971 290
1972 170
Definition of operations included in these figures has changed over the years as below:
  • 1966 Leucotomy, lobotomy, topectomy and tractotomy
  • 1967/68 Leucotomy
  • 1969 onwards Leucotomy, lobotomy and tractotomy.