§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people underwent psycho-surgery in each of the last five years, broken down by age. [67159]
§ Jacqui SmithFor the purpose of clarity, we refer to psycho-surgery as neuro-surgery for mental disorder.
While the Department does not collect information on neuro-surgery for mental disorder centrally, the ninth biennial report of the Mental Health Act Commission covering the years 1999–2001, indicates that nine 787W applications for neuro-surgery for mental disorder were considered (seven in 1999–2000 and two in 2000–01). All nine operations were eventually certified to go ahead.
In the period covered by the previous biennial report of the Mental Health Act Commission (1997–99), 17 referrals were made to the Commission to consider certifying neuro-surgery for mental disorder. All the cases referred in this reporting period were certified but one patient withdrew consent before the operation took place.
We do not have the breakdown of the Commission's figures by age groups.