§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State foe Northern Ireland if he will list by unit of management the number of training places for mentally handicapped and mentally ill patients under the four health and social sevices boards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NeedhamTraining under the health and social services boards for mentally handicapped and mentally it patients comprises work-orientated activities, often linked to social skills programmes, conducted in specialist statutory facilities under the supervision of board staff For the mentally handicapped, training places arc provided in workshops, adult training centres and social education centres in the community and in day care unit' in mental handicap hospitals. For the mentally ill training is provided in industrial therapy units attached to the psychiatric hospitals. The table relates only to training provided by the statutory sector. The places shown include not only those specifically provided for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped, but those in multi-client workshops in the community which are taken up by the mentally ill. The latest date for which central statistics are held on available training is 31 December 1986.
In regard to the mentally ill client group living in the community a very considerable amount of training is, already provided, and more is planned by Industrial Therapy Organisation Ltd., a voluntary body supported by both regional and local statutory funding.
The four health and social services boards are committed to a continuing assessment of the needs for training of the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped. particularly in the context of the increasing emphasis on helping these two client groups to lead as independent and fulfilling lives as possible within the community.
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Health and social services board and unit of management Places for the mentally handicapped Places for the mentally ill Eastern Down 60 East Belfast and Castlereagh Community 130 220 Lisburn 120 Muckamore Abbey Hospital 230 North Down and Ards 100 North and West Belfast Community 200 8 Purdysburn Hospital South Belfast Community 211 85 Northern Antrim and Ballymena 120 220 Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle 55 Lame and Carrickfergus 220 Magherafelt and Cookstown 50 Southern Armagh and Dungannon 150 131 Craigavon and Banbridge 100 50 Newry and Mourne 27 20
Health and social services board and unit of management Places for the mentally handicapped Places for the mentally ill Western Fermanagh 74 10 Londonderry, Limavady and Strabane 244 120 Omagh 75 88 TOTAL 2,166 952