§ Mr. Sheermanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many long stay non-geriatric patients there were in United Kingdom hospitals according to the most recently available figures.
§ Sir George YoungThe estimated number of patients in England and Wales who had been in NHS mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and psychiatric departments of general hospitals for one year and over at 31 December 1978—the latest date for which information is available—are as follows:
Under 65 65 and over Total Mental Illness Hospitals and Departments 24,723 30,933 55,656 Mental Handicap Hospitals and Departments 39,397 6,404 45,801 Total 64,120 37,337 101,457 As to other types of patients, the information is not available centrally.
I have asked my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland to let the hon. Member have further information relating to Scotland and Northern Ireland.