§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those convicted of crimes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychoses.
§ Mr. StanleyThe information sought is not available. However, in Northern Ireland the number of offenders ordered by the courts to be detained in hospital for treatment, on the grounds that they were suffering from mental illness, in each of the last five years was as follows:
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Number 1982 — 1983 —
Number 1984 — 1985 1 1986 3 All were detained by restriction orders made under article 47 of the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 and the previous similar provisions of the Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961. In this context mental illness covers any suffering from schizophrenic psychoses but not exclusively so.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many current occupants of Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland have ever been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals and units with a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis;
(2) how many people were admitted to her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland who had previously been discharged from mental illness hospitals and units after a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis in each of the last five years; and how many were recidivists.
§ Mr. StanleyThis information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many occupants of National Health Service hospital and unit beds in Northern Ireland have a main diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis; what those figures are as percentages of (a) mental and (b) all hospital beds in Northern Ireland; and how those figures compare with each of the past five years.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe information is as follows:
Number First Admissions Per cent, change since 1984 Rate per 100,000 population Number Total Admissions Per cent, change since 1984 Rate per 100,000 population 1984 134 — 9 1,105 — 71 1985 121 —9.7 8 1,089 —1.4 70 1986 108 —19.4 7 917 —17.0 59
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the discharges and deaths by length of stay, including percentage change in numbers and
Length of stay of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis Numbers Less than one month One and less than three months Three and less than six months Six and less than 12 months 12 months or over Total discharged/died Per cent. change over per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent. per cent. 1984 1984 484 44 366 33 132 12 51 5 63 6 1,096 — 1985 479 43 430 38 109 10 52 5 50 4 1,120 +2.2 1986 423 43 361 37 78 8 35 4 84 9 981 —10.5
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds have been specifically earmarked for the care of the mentally ill following the closure of mental hospitals in Northern Ireland in the last year; and if he will make a statement.
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Year Ending Number of beds occupied by patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis Percentage of mental illness beds occupied by patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis Percentage of all hospital beds occupied by patients with diagnosis of schizophrenic psychosis 30 June 19862 1,237 35.1 9.1 30 June 1985 1,422 39.2 10.9 30 June 1984 1,407 39.8 10.9 30 June 1983 1,396 36.7 10.6 30 June 1982 1,356 1 1 1 Not available due to industrial 1 action in the health service. 2 Latest date for which information is available.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds have been specifically earmarked for the care of the mentally ill following the closure of mental hospitals in Northern Ireland in the last year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamNo psychiatric hospitals have been closed in Northern Ireland during the last year.
§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the admissions by diagnosis and order of admissions, including percentage change in numbers and rates per 100,000 population, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Northern Ireland for the years 1984–86 inclusive.
§ Mr. Needham:The information is as follows:
percentage distribution, of patients suffering from schizophrenic psychosis in Northern Ireland for the years 1984–86 inclusive.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe chairman of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Northern Ireland) wrote to me in general terms seeking assurances that adequate provision will be made for sufferers of schizophrenia moving out to live within the community in future.
In my reply I gave the chairman the assurances sought.
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§ Mr. Goodladasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of those convicted of crimes in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years had ever previously been admitted to National Health Service mental illness hospitals with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychosis.
§ Mr. StanleyI refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him today.