HC Deb 13 May 1976 vol 911 c239W
Mr. Cartwright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what examination of the results of psycho-surgery has been undertaken by his Department during the past 10 years; and with what result;

(2) if he will estimate the total number of psycho-surgical operations performed annually in the United Kingdom specifying the numbers carried out at each of those hospitals which have recognised psycho-surgical units.

Dr. Owen

I refer my hon. Friend to my replies to my hon. Friends the Members for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price) and Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) on 21st January and 27th April, respectively.—[Vol. 903, c.512–3; Vol. 910, c. 80.] Psycho-surgical operations would normally take place in neuro-surgical units, where the operations recorded in current statistics as for the division of brain tissues are mostly performed in the treatment of neurological conditions such as Parkinsonism, but include those performed for the relief of psychiatric conditions. These latter are termed psycho-surgery.