§ Mr. Blackburnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the intended number of places for the mentally ill, both resident and day-care planned for the modernised St. Margaret's hospital, Walsall.
§ Sir George YoungThe long term strategy of the West Midlands regional health authority envisages that the bed complement of St. Margaret's hospital, which provides facilities only for the mentally handicapped, will ultimately be reduced to about 200.
As part of the modernisation process, the West Midlands regional health authority has approved the provision of 48 beds in two new homes at St. Margaret's, with a start on site in late 1979.
A 200-place activity centre is in an advanced stage of construction there; the 725W intention is to meet in-patient requirements and to provide places for patients from the community on a day basis.