§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much the number of in-patients in psychiatric hospitals has declined from 1955 to 1979; and to what he attributes this decline.
§ Sir George YoungThe number of inpatients in psychiatric—that is mental illness—hospitals and units in England on 31 December 1954, when a census was taken, is estimated as 143,500, and at 31 December 1978 as 78,200. Figures for 1979 are not yet available. There was, therefore, a decline of about 65,300 over 24 years.
The main reason appears to be a change in psychiatric practice which began earlier than 1955, that is, that doctors have increasingly sought to return patients to their normal environment as quickly as possible. This has been assisted by the 391W increase in the range and effectiveness of treatments and methods of care available over the last 30 years. In recent years only perhaps 9,000 of the 175,000 or so people now admitted annually have remained in hospital for over a year, and a considerable proportion of those who do remain are very old people who may require continuing care in their last year or two. Meanwhile, health and local authority resources to care for people recovering from mental illness outside hospital, and to assist relatives who care for them, have been increasingly developed, though more is needed. As the larger numbers who became long-stay in earlier years have gradually been discharged or died the number of in-patients has fallen continuously.