§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how many patients each of the special hospitals is overcrowded; what are the consequences of this situation; and if he will take steps to eliminate overcrowding.
§ Sir George YoungThe only special hospital in which there is overcrowding at present is Broadmoor. The hospital facilities are appropriate for about 600 patients; on 31 March 1980 there were 720 patients resident.
The main consequence of the overcrowding is that dormitory accommodation—for those patients who do not have single rooms—and day room accommodation is cramped; this reduces general living standards and increases the problems of staff caring for patients. Despite some recent improvements, there is also insufficient space for educational, occupational and social activities. More generally, lack of space hampers the modernisation of sub-standard accommodation.
The number of patients at Broadmoor has been significantly reduced over recent 89W years and will be further reduced as the new accommodation at the Park Lane special hospital becomes available.