§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many mentally ill and mentally handicapped patients have been moved from hospital care into residential care in each of the last five years;
292W(2) what are his Department's estimates of the numbers of mentally ill and mentally handicapped people not receiving long-stay hospital care in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. FreemanThe numbers of discharges from mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units in England directly into residential care are not available centrally.
Many of the National Health Service patients discharged from mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units after a stay of one year or more will transfer to residential care.
The table shows the numbers of patients discharged to the community from National Health Service mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units in England after a stay of one year or more, for the last five years for which information is currently available. The figures exclude deaths, and transfers to another hospital.
Discharges from mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units, England (1982 to 1986) Year Mental illness Mental handicap Total 1982 3,465 1,229 4,694 1983 3,563 1,457 5,020 1984 3,928 1,919 5,847 1985 3,441 2,052 5,493 1986 3,751 2,528 6,279