§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ex-psychiatric patients have been released into the community in each of the last three years; what arrangements have been made for their continued care in the community; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information in the form requested is not collected centrally. The table shows the number of discharges to the community from NHS mental illness hospitals and units in England after a stay of one year or more for the last three years for which information is currently available.
629W
Year Number of discharges 1984 3,928 1985 3,441 1986 3,751 It is for health and local authorities to determine service requirements and expenditure priorities within policy guidelines. From 1 April 1991, health authorities will be required to introduce the care programme approach to ensure the proper assessment of the needs of patients both in the community and in hospital.