HC Deb 16 February 1988 vol 127 cc562-5W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many documented cases of abuse of mentally ill people in institutions covered by his Department there have been in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Mrs. Currie

Individual health authorities are responsible for monitoring their own services and dealing with all issues — including abuse — as appropriate. Such information is not routinely collected by the Department. Since 1 January 1986, there have been 80 complaints by patients in the special hospitals alleging ill-treatment. In one of these cases, the allegation was substantiated and a staff member was dismissed.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has of the numbers of those caring for the mentally ill at home under the care in the community proposals who are subsequently certified as mentally ill.

Mr. Newton

We have no basis for making such an estimate.

Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his Department's current figures for the number of homes funded by health authorities to provide sheltered accommodation for people who are mentally ill.

Mrs. Currie

If accommodation for people who are mentally ill is funded by a health authority it should form part of the in-patient accommodation the health authority provides, and so not figure separately in NHS statistics. Health authorities may also provide varying degrees of financial support to voluntary bodies which are providing sheltered accommodation, but we have no statistics of such payments.

Mr. Cryer

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, South received on Tuesday 9 February, if he will list the 45 National Health Service hospital units, hostels and holiday homes for the mentally handicapped closed since 1984, stating in each case the changes of use for each site.

Mrs. Currie

I regret the delay in supplying the information originally requested. As I explained in my reply to the hon. Member on 18 January at column579, it was necessary to make enquiries to bring the information held centrally up to date.

Listed are details of the National Health Service hospital units, hostels and holiday homes for mentally handicapped people which have closed since 1979, including 31 since 1984.

NHS hospitals units, hostels and holiday homes for mentally handicapped people closed since 1979
Region District Hospital Closure date Use made of sites
Northern RHA None
Yorkshire RHA Scunthorpe Bubwith Hostel 1985 Part sold to GP practice and part to building firm
York Tadcaster Hostel 1987 To be demolished to provide new facilities for mentally handicapped people
Harrogate Bondgate Hostel 1987 To be marketed
Trent RHA Southern Derbyshire Retreat Hostel 1983–87 Sold for use as an old peoples home
Leicestershire Glengate Hospital 1987 Sold for use as training centre
Leicestershire Hillesden Hostel 1981–82 Sold privately. Use not known
North Lincolnshire, Central Tuxford Hostel 1983–84 Sold subject to contract
Nottinghamshire Victoria Hospital 1986 Demolished.6 person bungalow for elderly people planned
Rotherham Aughton Court 1984 Part sold for use as a private nursing home
Sheffield Wales Court Hospital 1979–80 Sold privately. Use not known
Sheffield Scott Road Hostel 1985 Withdrawn from market
Sheffield Commonside Hostel 1985 Under consideration for day centre
East Anglian RHA Norwich Blofield Hall 1984 Sold for use as educational establishment
North West Thames RHA North West Hertfordshire Tenterdon House, St. Albans (part of Cell Barnes Hospital) 1986 Sale to be completed before end of March 1988
North West Hertfordshire Houndswood (part of Harperbury Hospital 1984 Sold to private developer
North East Thames RHA North East Essex Brunswick House 1987 Disposal option under review
North East Essex Essex Hall 1983 To be sold by tender
North East Essex Middlesex House 1986 Sold for residential development
Barking, Havering and Brentwood Little Warley Lodge 1987 Sold for use as nursing home
South East Thames RHA Hastings East Down House 1987 Sold possibly for residential development
Canterbury Lanthorne Houe 1987 Demolished to provide 4 bungalows for mentally handicapped people
South West Thames RHA Merton and Surrey Brook 1983 Sold for residential development
North West Surrey Murray House 1984 Sold for residential development
South West Surrey King George V Hospital 1986 Sold for residential development
Wessex RHA Isle of Wight Longford (Ryde) 1985 Awaiting outcome of planning application
West Dorset Elfadene Holiday Home 1983 Sold to Housing Association
Winchester Tichbourne Down 1986 Possible residential development
Portsmouth Sandy Point Hospital 1985 Residential development institutional use and nature reserve
Bath Winsley Centre 1985 Planning appeal for residential units rejected
Oxford RHA West Berkshire Style Acre Hospital 1985 Sold for use as private hospital
Oxfordshire Bradwell Grove Hospital, Burford 1986 Reverted to ground landlord on closure
South Western RHA Frenchay Leigh Court Hospital 1985 Sold for private mental handicap care
Exeter Hawkmoor Hospital 1987 Sale under consideration
Cornwall Elizabeth Barclay Home 1985 Sold to private sector
Bath Rock Hall House 1983 Sold to Housing Association
Exeter Starcross Hospital 1986 Sold to private sector
West Midlands RHA North Warwickshire Over Whitacre Hostel 1986 Sold for private nursing home
Dudley Part of — Prestwood Hospital 1986 Sold. Present use not known
North Western RHA West Lancashire Ormskirk Childrens' Hospital 1986 Closure being reviewed by Health Authority
Mersey RHA Chester Tabley Agricultural Hostel 1981 Sold to private developer
Crewe Wrenbury Hostel 1981 Sold to Trust for use as hostel for mentally handicapped people

Region District Hospital Closure date Use made of sites
Macclesfield Part of—Mary Dendy Hospital ie Warford Hall 1987 Not yet marketed
Ancoats 1987 Not yet marketed