§ Mr. Galleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally ill and disturbed people are being retained in special hospitals although their illnesses do not warrant strict detention; and what plans he has to rehouse them in more appropriate National Health Service accommodation.
§ Mr. John PattenAt 30 September 1983 the numbers of patients in special hospitals awaiting places in NHS hospitals or community hostels was 219 and 41 respectively. The majority of these represent the normal throughput of patients who leave special hospitals every year, averaging 250. But there are about 50 patients on the current list who have been waiting for a NHS bed for two years or more; these cases are monitored and followed-up regularly with regional and district health authorities.
The Department has held a number of meetings in NHS regions to discuss with those concerned locally their responsibilities for difficult-to-place mentally disordered people, including those awaiting transfer from special hospitals. We intend to draw the attention of regional health authority chairmen to this matter again at a meeting with them later this month. The Rampton hospital review board has also taken a number of direct initiatives with NHS and social service authorities. My noble Friend, who has ministerial responsibility for this area of work, will be monitoring progress carefully.