§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when his Department is expected to complete its discussions of the questions of violence by patients in the National Health Service; and when he expects to issue guidance to assist the hospitals.
§ Mr. MoyleMy Department in fact issued guidance to health authorities on the management of violent, or potentially 551W violent, hospital patients in March 1976. The discussions to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 19th January are related to what, if anything, can usefully be added to that guidance, and I cannot anticipate when or how those discussions will be concluded.—[Vol. 942, c. 325–6.]