Mentally Handicapped Persons (Hansard, 19 June 1981)

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration was given to the locations of existing local authority houses, hostels or sheltered accommodation for mentally handicapped persons, in drawing up his Welsh Office Report on an all-Wales plan for the mentally handicapped, and in particular in recommending locations for the 49 domestic hospital units specified in that report.
464W

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
The unpublished report to which the hon. Member refers did not address itself to these questions. It is intended to discuss them with the local authorities in the context of the Department's proposal for joint all-Wales planning of the development of the services for the mentally handicapped, as soon as funding and resource implications for the Health Service have been assessed.

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to secure a transfer of resources from the National Health Service to local government social services departments to facilitate a shift in the balance of responsibility for catering for the mentally handicapped from hospitals to the community.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and my right hon. Friend hope to issue a consultative document on this question very shortly.

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the total number of persons in Wales who are (a) mentally handicapped and (b) mentally ill.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
Mental handicap and mental illness are not precise categories. It is not possible to assess the number of people who are affected by some form of mental illness in Wales, but recent studies of five local case registers suggest that some 9,000 persons in Wales may be in need of mental handicap services.

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consideration has been given to the findings of the research project at Ely hospital, Cardiff, into mental handicap, in drawing up the Welsh Office's all-Wales plan for the mentally handicapped;
(2) if he will take steps to incorporate the experience of community-based projects, such as the NIMROD project in South Glamorgan, into his Department's thinking on developing mental handicap services in Wales.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
Any all-Wales plan for the development of the services for the mentally handicapped, which the Department may invite the local authorities and health authorities to consider drawin up jointly, should take account of experience gained from NIMROD and similar projects.

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Wales at what stage he intends holding discussions with local authorities in Wales on his all Wales plan for the mentally handicapped; and whether such discussions will also take place with voluntary organisations and others interested in the subject.

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
I hope to have discussions shortly with local authorities on how best we can carry forward a joint plan for the development of services for the mentally handicapped in Wales and, thereafter, it is my intention to consult widely.

§ Mr. Wigley
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures to show the age structure of persons permanently resident in mental hospitals or subnormality hospitals in Wales, on account of their being either mentally handicapped or mentally ill, showing, in particular, what proportion of these people is over 60 years of age and under 18 years of age respectively.
465W

§ Mr. Wyn Roberts
It is not possible to forecast exactly how many patients currently in mental illness and mental

Mental illness hospitals and units in Wales—Resident patients at 5 April 1981

Length of Stay Age Group

0–15 16–19 20–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75+ Total

Up to 1 year 30 44 61 194 187 203 240 298 395 1,652

1 to 2 years 3 5 6 25 23 34 53 99 151 399

2 to 3 years — — 3 14 15 23 25 56 108 244

3 to 5 years — — 3 8 21 26 63 79 154 354

5 to 10 years — — 1 17 37 33 90 69 130 377

10 to 15 years — — — 9 30 30 66 56 38 229

15 to 20 years — — — 2 22 45 43 32 20 164

20 to 25 years — — — -1 16 36 39 34 24 150

Over 25 years — — — — 11 78 243 311 272 915

Total 33 49 74 270 362 508 862 1,034 1,292 4,484

Mental handicap hospitals and units in Wales—Resident patients at 5 April 1981

Length of Stay Age Group

0–15 16–19 20–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75+ Total

Up to 1 year 27 24 30 24 26 18 26 5 1 181

1 to 2 years 4 8 17 25 19 17 19 9 2 120

2 to 3 years 7 12 10 21 14 20 19 11 1 115

3 to 5 years 18 8 22 29 27 35 25 10 2 176

5 to 10 years 31 31 46 78 59 51 51 43 16 406

10 to 15 years 3 18 25 72 42 29 48 26 10 273

15 to 20 years — 9 51 91 53 39 42 43 13 341

20 to 25 years — — 5 71 63 28 48 23 5 243

Over 25 years — — — 16 68 79 77 81 36 357

Total 90 110 206 427 371 316 355 251 86 2,212

Mental illness hospitals and units in Wales—Resident patients at 5 April 1981
Length of Stay	Age Group
	0–15	16–19	20–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65–74	75+	Total
Up to 1 year	30	44	61	194	187	203	240	298	395	1,652
1 to 2 years	3	5	6	25	23	34	53	99	151	399
2 to 3 years	—	—	3	14	15	23	25	56	108	244
3 to 5 years	—	—	3	8	21	26	63	79	154	354
5 to 10 years	—	—	1	17	37	33	90	69	130	377
10 to 15 years	—	—	—	9	30	30	66	56	38	229
15 to 20 years	—	—	—	2	22	45	43	32	20	164
20 to 25 years	—	—	—	-1	16	36	39	34	24	150
Over 25 years	—	—	—	—	11	78	243	311	272	915
Total	33	49	74	270	362	508	862	1,034	1,292	4,484

Mental handicap hospitals and units in Wales—Resident patients at 5 April 1981
Length of Stay	Age Group
	0–15	16–19	20–24	25–34	35–44	45–54	55–64	65–74	75+	Total
Up to 1 year	27	24	30	24	26	18	26	5	1	181
1 to 2 years	4	8	17	25	19	17	19	9	2	120
2 to 3 years	7	12	10	21	14	20	19	11	1	115
3 to 5 years	18	8	22	29	27	35	25	10	2	176
5 to 10 years	31	31	46	78	59	51	51	43	16	406
10 to 15 years	3	18	25	72	42	29	48	26	10	273
15 to 20 years	—	9	51	91	53	39	42	43	13	341
20 to 25 years	—	—	5	71	63	28	48	23	5	243
Over 25 years	—	—	—	16	68	79	77	81	36	357
Total	90	110	206	427	371	316	355	251	86	2,212