§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the woman at Rampton who had been waiting for five to six years on 30 November 1978 for a place in a National Health Service hospital is still waiting; if so, why: and what action is being taken to find her a place.
§ Dr. VaughanThe patient in question is still waiting. Although she no longer needs to be detained in the conditions of high security of a special hospital, she remains very disturbed and severely handicapped, to the extent that she is unlikely ever to be discharged to the community, and individual mental handicap hospitals are limited in the number of such patients they can properly care for at any one time. The health authorities concerned, however, accept that she should be transferred to the local hospital as soon as a suitable vacancy arises.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the one female patient at Rampton who had been waiting for nearly seven years on 30 November 1978 for a transfer to a National Health Service hospital is still waiting; if so, why; and what action is being taken to find her a place.
§ Dr. VaughanI understand from the area health authority concerned that the patient, though considered to be a priority420W case, cannot be admitted to her local hospital until an upgraded villa ward becomes operational. The reopening of this villa is delayed because of lack of funds and difficulties of recruiting suitable nursing staff. The district management team is actively considering the funding required to open the villa ward.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the woman aged 65 years at Moss Side hospital who had been waiting for four years and three months on 30 November 1978 for a place at Church Hill House hospital, Bracknell, is still waiting; if so, why; and what action is being taken to find her a place.
§ Dr. VaughanI have been informed that a place will be available for this patient in early August.