HC Deb 06 August 1980 vol 990 cc215-6W
Miss Wright

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Handsworth, on 16 June, what

Mr. Grylls

asked the Secretary of State estimate he has been given by regional health authorities, other than the West Midlands regional health authority, of the numbers of mentally handicapped patients in their areas at present in long-stay hospitals who could be transferred to community or family care if the necessary support services were available.

Sir George Young

In its strategic plans for 1979–88 the Trent regional health authority estimates that 2,000 mental handicap hospital beds are probably being used for the care of patients who do not need hospital accommodation, and the South-Western regional health authority refers to a survey in one area which identified approximately 440 residents who do not need to be in hospital.

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