§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many psychiatric patients died whilst in psychiatric hospitals in 1978; and, of these, how many were a consequence of attempted suicide for which they were admitted;
(2) how many patients in psychiatric hospitals died as a consequence of suicide whilst the patient was in hospital.
§ Mr. MoyleThe latest figures available are those reported by mental illness hospitals and units in England for the mental health inquiry 1976. In that year the deaths of 13,509 patients were reported. The number of deaths of in-patients by suicide reported was 92.
Information is not available through the inquiry on the number of admissions to psychiatric hospitals following attempted suicide; or of the number of deaths which were a consequence of it.
Not all of the cases of suicide would necessarily have occurred within the hos- 716W pital; some may have occurred outside the hospital, in particular while the patient was on short leave or unofficial absence. Local differences in the procedure for dealing with such patients may have led to inconsistencies in the reporting of suicides to the enquiry. For this and other reasons it is generally regarded as tending to understate the true position.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the standard of hospital care, particularly where patients have successfully attempted suicide; and what consideration is being given to protect such patients from danger whilst the balance of their mind is disturbed.
§ Mr. MoyleClearly any suicide is a tragedy, but it would be wrong to assume that a suicide necessarily implies inappropriate or inadequate care on the part of the hospital. Developments in the treatment and care of psychiatric patients over the past 20 years rightly place much greater emphasis on giving freedom and responsibilty to patients wherever possible. This has brought a new richness and variety to most in-patients' lives and has greatly contributed to the therapeutic process, but it must entail an element of risk for a few patients. Hospitals seek to minimise this risk, particularly where it is felt that the nature of a patient's illness creates a possibility of particular risk of an attempt at suicide; the supervision of psychiatric patients in these circumstances involves fine professional judgment by the staff concerned. The improved staffing levels of recent years have helped in this, but more has still to be done and the Government will continue to give high priority to the psychiatric services.