§ 49. Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are currently awaiting transfer from each of the four special hospitals; what is the longest period of time a patient has been waiting; and if he will take steps to speed up these transfers.
§ Sir George YoungThe information, as at 1 January 1980, in respect of patients for whom recommendations made by the responsible medical officer concerned for transfer to a less secure hospital have been forwarded to health authorities, is as follows:
Males Females Total Broadmoor 23 5 28 Rampton 94 39 133 Moss Side 39 6 45 Park Lane 7 — 7 The longest period which any of the above patients had been awaiting transfer was eight years and four months, but this patient has since been admitted to a NHS hospital.
My right hon. Friend has written to the chairmen of regional health authorities drawing their attention to this problem and asking them to take a personal interest in the development of policies to secure the transfer to local NHS hospitals of those patients who no longer require to be detained in conditions of special security. Progress reports are expected at the end of this month.