§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the recorded number of instances of self-mutilation among women patients at Moss Side special hospital, for the previous 12 months;
(2) what are the recorded numbers of instances of the use of seclusion, and the recorded number of hours women patients have been held in seclusion, at Moss Side special hospital, for the previous 12 months.
§ Mrs. CurrieIn the 12 months from 1 December 1986, the recorded number of instances of self-mutilation among women patients at Moss Side hospital was 250. The recorded number of instances of seclusion was 1,573 of which 975 related to women patients. The recorded number of hours spent in seclusion by women patients was 17,302, which included seclusion during the night hours. Eighty per cent. of the total time spent in seclusion by women patients was accounted for by nine of them. There are at present 198 men patients and 86 women patients at Moss Side. Over the past year or so, the hospital has admitted a number of grossly disturbed, delinquent young women who suffer from psychopathic disorder, in many cases associated with mental impairment. Self-mutilation is a behavioural symptom often exhibited by women patients and had been a marked feature of the behaviour of the young women before they were admitted to Moss Side. Slow modification of this behaviour accounts in part for the high use of seclusion among this group. The hospital is trying to minimise the extent of self-mutilation and seclusion among women patients by management of the patient mix and the opening in October this year of an extra ward for women patients.