HC Deb 29 October 1981 vol 10 cc456-7W

Mr. Carter-Jones asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health districts have a consultant geriatric psychiatrist for the treatment of elderly people suffering from dementia and other related illnesses.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1981]: I have obtained information from regional health authorities about districts with a consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in the elderly, and this is shown in the table below. The totals include some districts where less than a whole—time appointment has been made, and the figures should not be taken to imply that the need for consultant cover has been fully met in all the districts.

Region Number of districts Number of districts

with consultant

psychiatrists with a

special interest in the

elderly Northern 16 6 Yorkshire 17 11 Trent 17 7 East Anglia 7 3 North—West Thames 18 5 North—East Thames 17 14

Region Number of districts Number of districts

with consultant

psychiatrists with a

special interest in the

elderly South—East Thames 16 7 South—West Thames 14 13 Wessex 10 9 Oxford 7 6 South Western 10 9 West Midlands 22 6 Mersey 10 4 North Western 18 5 England 199 105

In addition, posts in a further nine health districts which at present have no consultant psychiatrist with a special interest in the elderly have recently been advertised or are being advertised, but no appointments have yet been made.