HC Deb 18 February 1993 vol 219 cc311-2W
Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average discharge rate from hospital for psychiatric patients.

Mr. Yeo

The table shows the estimated number of discharges of psychiatric patients by duration of stay from national health service hospitals in England from 1987–88 to 1989–90. The figures do not represent the number of patients as a person can be discharged more than once during a year.

Discharges by duration of stay 1987–88 to 1989–90—England
Duration of Stay 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
Persons All durations 181,350 188,560 183,249
Under 1 month 117,960 121,550 118,155
1–3 months 45,250 46,700 45,347
3–12 months 14,250 15,140 15,049
1–2 years 1,590 1,830 1,628
2–3 years 550 550 580
3–5 years 400 540 591
5–10 years 430 670 525
10–15 years 180 320 287
15 years and over 750 1,240 1,086

Note:

The figures are estimates of finished district spells taken from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) System. A spell is a continuous stay of a patient in a hospital or hospitals in the district or special health authority. Each spell may be composed of one or more consultant episodes. Finished episodes are not identical to discharges since the latter includes transfers from one hospital to another.

Figures do not sum to the total due to rounding.

Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is made for emergency care in the case of patients suffering from schizophrenia.

Mr. Yeo

Health authorities, working with local authorities and the independent sector, should provide a comprehensive range of local services including sufficient in-patient provision for those who require emergency admission to hospital.

Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consider the need for further measures to deal with mental illness within the community care programme, with particular reference to schizophrenia.

Mr. Yeo

We are considering whether new powers are needed to ensure that mentally ill people in the community, including those suffering from schizophrenia, receive the care they need, and whether the present powers are being used effectively.

The Department of Health and regional health authorities are monitoring implementation of the care programme approach for people with a severe mental illness which was introduced in April 1991.