§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally ill patients have been in hospital for more than one, three and five years within each regional health authority.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation is not collected centrally in the precise form requested. Estimated numbers for 1984 of292W resident patients by duration of stay are contained in table A6 of booklet 3, "Mental illness hospitals and units in England: Resident patients", in the DHSS series "Mental Health Statistics for England 1984", a copy of which is in the Library.
§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which regional health authorities have provided bridging funds to assist the build-up of services for the mentally ill outside hospital; and how much has been allocated by each authority for this purpose in each year since 1978.
§ Mr. WhitneyThis is a matter for regional health authorities, and comprehensive information is not held centrally.
§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the results of his consideration of a revision of DHSS circular 19/74 to local authorities clarifying their responsibilities regarding mental illness.
§ Mr. WhitneyOur consideration of the need to clarify the guidance given to local authorities on their responsibilities in this area is not yet complete.
§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the results of the discussions with interested parties regarding the initiation of a public information campaign on community care for the mentally ill.
§ Mr. WhitneyOur discussions have centred on the needs of mentally handicapped people. A grant has been made towards the campaign for mentally hadicapped people's programme of work to promote the acceptance of more mentally handicapped people in the community. We are also considering what additional help we can give the Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults (MENCAP) towards its work in this field.
In addition, some health authorities have produced their own video-tapes and other audio-visual material to promote understanding of care in the community of mentally ill and mentally handicapped people. Some of this is being used by other authorities. The Mental Health Film Council, which is grant-aided by this Department, provides information on such material.
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§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects that his Department's guidance on hospital accommodation for mentally ill people will be issued.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe preparation of the guidance contained in Health building note, No. 35 — "Accommodation for people with mental illness" is well in-hand and it is intended that it will be published early next year following the final stage of consultation with the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that mentally ill patients will not be discharged from hospital unless appropriate services are available to them in the outside community.
§ Mr. WhitneyOur policies recognise the continuing importance of long-stay in-patient facilities for certain mental illness patients, so discharge into the community is considered only when it is in the best interests of the individual patient. It is primarily for those responsible for clinical care to determine when such a patient is ready to leave hospital, but we expect clinicians to satisfy themselves beforehand that there are appropriate support facilities for the patient outside the hospital.