§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department will promote a research programme and study of the number of patients in psychiatric hospitals who are suffering from mental confusion caused by faecal impaction; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe results of research on faecal incontinence are widely available and there does not seem to be any particular need for additional study at the present time. Mental confusional states can arise from and be influenced by many different physical causes. This is particularly true of elderly people whatever the setting, and bowel functioning can influence and be influenced by mental state. So the identification and treatment of these and other physical conditions are an essential part of accepted good clinical practice in mental illness hospitals as in other settings.
Careful assessment of the physical state of people who are mentally ill, particularly the elderly, is important and for this reason the Department has provided guidance to health authorities recommending close working links between medical services for the elderly and for the elderly mentally ill. It also recommends the location of units as part of the acute services in the district general hospital for the assessment and treatment of elderly mentally ill people.