ELECTRO-CONVULSIVE THERAPY AND ELDERLY PEOPLE

Early day motion 551, tabled 11 December 2001 by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 48 members.

That this House is concerned about the disproportionate number of ECT patients who are elderly; notes that the Department of Health's Statistical bulletin reveals that 44 per cent. of female ECT patients were aged 65 years and over; calls upon the Department of Health to fund further research into the risks of complications arising from such treatment to patients within this age-group, in particular the effect on pre-existing physical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, and the impairment of memory and cognitive functions; and calls upon the Government to pay particular attention to strengthening the advocacy rights of elderly psychiatric patients, including the right to information and to withhold consent, when it brings a new Mental Health Act before Parliament, and to include such a section in the draft bill on regulating ECT.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Liberal Democrat 18, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, UUP 2.