§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the most recent figure for the number of persons waiting to enter mental hospitals;
(2) if he will provide an approximate figure for the number of elderly persons waiting to enter psychogeriatric wards in National Health Service hospitals.
§ Dr. VaughanReturns from health authorities indicate that at 31 December 1980 the number of people awaiting admission to mental illness hospitals and psychiatric departments of general hospitals was 3,378. This includes elderly people awaiting admission to psychogeriatric wards, for whom we have no reliable separate figures.