§ 11. Mr. Bill Michie (Sheffield, Heeley)What action he is taking to identify the number and use of acute beds in the NHS. [57360]
§ The Minister for Public Health (Ms Tessa Jowell)My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 30 September the establishment of a national inquiry into hospital beds. This work is already well under way within the Department and the findings will be published next spring.
§ Mr. MichieI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply and for the £367 million plus to Sheffield health authority. The money will certainly help and it is very welcome. May I raise the issue of mental illness, which to a large extent is still considered to be the Cinderella service within the national health service? It needs special attention at present and I am asking whether that would be possible.
§ Ms JowellObviously, my hon. Friend raises an important point. Certainly it is absolutely crucial to have an adequate number of psychiatric beds to ensure that mental health services can meet and respond to the range of needs in psychiatric patients—for example, by providing day care services locally. My hon. Friend will be aware that an expert group is drawing up a national service framework in order to develop a proper national framework for the delivery of psychiatric services. His point about ensuring an adequate number of beds in relation to those provided for other services will be part of that consideration.
§ Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)Will the figures for acute beds in the NHS specify how many of them will be in mixed-sex wards in acute psychiatric units? Does the Minister recall the Secretary of State's categorical pledge to me earlier this year that he would put a stop to the building of any new mixed-sex wards in psychiatric units? How does she square that pledge with advice given by the NHS executive to Goodmayes hospital which restates all the old discredited arguments in favour of mixed-sex wards in such units?
§ Ms JowellMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State stopped the development of a mixed-sex ward last time the subject was raised in the House. He will do the same again, if the hon. Gentleman would like to supply details.