HC Deb 28 November 1983 vol 49 cc418-26W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all regional health authority and district hospital authority members he has appointed since May 1979, together with their occupational background and political affiliations where known; and if he will give the same information regarding those whom they replaced.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 17 November 1983, c. 571]: The following tables give such information as is readily available on regional health authority members. Information is not held centrally on district health authority members, who are appointed by regional health authorities and local authorities.

The tables do not indicate political affiliations. These are not known in many cases and we do not believe it would be right to provide a selective list. These are not political appointments.

EAST ANGLIAN REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

MERSEY REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

NORTHERN REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

NORTH EAST THAMES REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1982

Name and Occupation

NORTH WEST THAMES REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

SOUTH EAST THAMES REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

SOUTH WEST THAMES REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1982

SOUTH WESTERN REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

OXFORD REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

NORTH WESTERN REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

TRENT REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

WESSEX REGION

In office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1982

WEST MIDLANDS REGION

Office at May 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

YORKSHIRE REGION

In office at may 1979 and no longer serving

Name and Occupation

Appointed in 1980

Appointed in 1981

Appointed in 1982

Appointed in 1983

Mentally Ill Persons

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many adults have been discharged from institutions for the mentally ill in each of the past three years; if he is satisfied that they are receiving adequate community care and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

[pursuant to his reply, 24 November 1983, c. 295–6]: The information on discharges is given in the following table. This includes discharges of patients admitted to hospital for short periods as well as discharges of patients who had been long-term residents. In 1981 less than 3 per cent. of the patients discharged had a length of stay greater than one year.

Mental illness hospitals and units. Discharges of patients aged 16 and over.
Number
1979 156,284
1980 166,399
1981 171,788

The rise in the number of discharges was matched by a similar rise in the number of admissions. Heath and local authorities are both aware of the need to ensure that patients are not discharged without appropriate arrangements for after-care, in which health and local authorities need to work closely together. I believe that in general they are doing so. The right hon. Member may like to know that at a meeting earlier this month between my right hon. and learned Friend and the Association of Municipal Authorities, the Association of County Councils, the London Boroughs Association, and the National Association of Health Authorities, my hon. and learned Friend agreed to a proposal for a joint working group to consider the joint planning arrangements between health and local authorities and how these might be improved. Most discharged patients return to their own homes, but some enter local authority voluntary or private residential care, and regulations under the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983, coming into force early next year, should help local authorities to ensure satisfactory standards of care are provided in private residential accommodation.