HC Deb 07 April 1987 vol 114 c186W
5. Mrs. Shields

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to ensure that before any hospital for the mentally handicapped is closed down full provision for care in the community is made for discharged patients.

Mrs. Currie

Mentally handicapped people should not be discharged from hospital until their needs have been assessed and arrangements have been made for those needs to be met appropriately. The closure of hospitals should be a consequence of residents being suitably accommodated in the community and not vice versa.