HC Deb 30 June 1988 vol 136 cc342-3W
Mr. Bradley

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the deaths not due to natural causes that have occurred since 1 January 1980 at the Abraham Cowley trust in St. Peter's hospital, Chertsey; and what is the average level of such deaths for such units nationally.

Mrs. Currie

I understand from North West Surrey health authority that there have been seven deaths at the Abraham Cowley unit due to non-natural causes since 1980. Following the two most recent deaths the health authority has tightened up drug security procedures and is installing special hot water controls.

The national information requested is not available. The table shows the relationship between total deaths and deaths from non-natural causes in psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales from 1980 to 1985 which is the latest available information.

1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980
3. 2 (above) expressed as a percentage of 1 (above)
Male 2.37 2.42 2.05 2.14 1.96 2.59
Female 1.77 1.73 1.70 1.83 2.14 2.16
4. Deaths from suicides
Male 31 26 28 17 20 24
Female 11 12 13 15 16 19
5. 4 (above) expressed as a percentage of 1 (above)
Male 0.63 0.57 0.57 0.35 0.42 0.48
Female 0.17 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.24 0.27

Note:

1. These figures include all those who died in NHS psychiatric hospitals in England and Wales between 1980 and 1985 (ie patients, staff and visitors) and are likely to exclude deaths in psychiatric units in general hospitals.

Source O.P.C.S.

Back to