§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals 275W he has for increasing the number of hospital beds for the mentally ill in the Crewe Health District.
§ Mr. MoyleI understand from the Cheshire Area Health Authority that the number of beds in the Crewe District for adult mental illness meets the Department's guideline for this specialty, and that no increase is proposed. There are no beds specifically designated for the treatment of elderly people with severe mental infirmity, although accommodation for them is available in geriatric beds, the number of which exceeds the Department's guideline for the population served. The authority will be reviewing this arrangement.