§ Mr. SimsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been discharged from institutions for the mentally ill into community care since 1979; and what information he has as to how many of these people are amongst these currently classified as homeless.
§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his latest estimate of the number of people discharged from(a) long-stay mental handicap and (b) long-stay mental illness hospitals since 1980.
§ Mr. DorrellInformation available centrally is given in the table. Figures up to 1986 exclude deaths and all transfers to other hospitals, while figures after 1986 only exclude deaths and transfers between hospitals within a district health authority.
Centrally collected figures are not available on the current whereabouts of persons with a mental illness discharged from national health service hospitals and hospital units. 320W
Discharges from mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units, in England 1979–89 After a stay of one year or more All durations of stay Year Mental illness Mental handicap Mental illness Mental handicap 1979 3,460 1,178 149,027 15,760 1980 3,376 1,120 158,556 18,014 1981 3,516 1,246 163,583 21,258 1982 3,465 1,229 162,230 24,345 1983 3,563 1,457 167,535 30,445 1984 3,928 1,919 171,144 34,892 1985 3,441 2,052 176,200 37,902 1986 3,571 2,528 176,351 40,464 1987–881 3,900 2,500 181,350 35,050 1988–901 5,150 2,960 188,600 39,360 1 Estimated number of finished district spells include transfers to other hospitals outside the district.