§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the most common causes of severe amnesia;
(2) what estimates he has of the number of people suffering from serious amnesia who live at home with their families; and what evidence there is on the adequacy of the support provided by social services departments;
(3) what estimates have been made of the number of patients suffering severe amnesia who are long-stay patients in hospitals which are not able to give specialised treatment to them.
§ Mrs. CurrieSevere amnesia can be a symptom of a range of medical conditions. Statistics on amnesia are not collected centrally.
The National Health Service is organised to treat medical conditions rather than specific symptoms and there is therefore no special provision for patients with severe amnesia. Patients may be treated in a number of settings such as neurological, mental illness or geriatric units. Local authority social services departments usually provide services on a client group basis.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what research into amnesia has been and is being supported by his Department; and what plans there are to increase it.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe Department does not directly commission research specifically into amnesia. The main Government agency for the promotion of medical and related biological research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science.