HC Deb 06 December 1982 vol 33 cc389-91W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will provide details of the use made by each regional health authority of the money allocated to it for the establishment of a regional secure psychiatric unit;

£'000s
Revenue allocations Capital allocations
Regional Health Authority 1982–83 Total since 1976–77* 1982–83 Total since 1976–77>*
Northern 720 3,676 891
Yorkshire 820 4,209 1,128 1,478
Trent 1,060 5,400 315 3,101
East Anglia 420 2,139 923 968
North West Thames 810 4,093 60 60
North East Thames 870 4,403 150 200
South East Thames 840 4,272 1,600 1,905
South West Thames 680 3,441
Wessex 610 3,133 60 111
Oxford 510 2,603
South Western 730 3,728 548 2,192
West Midlands 1,200 6,157
Mersey 580 2,968 1,117 2,666
North Western 950 4,863 1,339 3,221
England 10,800 55,085 7,567 17,120

* Including 1982–83.

Includes a separate allocation of £360,000 to the Bethlem and Maudsley hospital, which is now a special health authority.

The total revenue allocation received by each regional health authority for the years 1976–77 to 1981–82 with the amounts spent on security in psychiatric hospital and on other psychiatric services is as follows:

£'000s
Regional Health Authority Total revenue allocation 1976–77 to 1981–82 Expenditure on security in psychiatric hospitals 1976–77 to 1981–82 Expenditure on other psychiatric services 1976–77 to 1981–82
Northern 2,956 2,158
Yorkshire 3,389 2,178 251
Trent 4,340 553 2,773
East Anglia 1,719 425 1,093
North West Thames 3,283 1,001 1,082
North East Thames 3,533 261 2,570
South East Thames 3,432 1,706 199
South West Thames 2,761 2,003 338
Wessex 2,523 1,618
Oxford 2,093 561 845
South Western 2,998 552 758

(2) what is the special revenue allocation for 1982–83 made to each regional health authority for regional secure psychiatric units; and what is the total received so far by each regional health authority and the amount so far spent by each regional health authority on regional secure units.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The amount of special revenue funds allocated to each regional health authority for 1982–83 for the development and operation of regional secure units and interim secure facilities, and the total amounts allocated since 1976–77, are set out in the following table. Capital funds are made available to health authorities for the building of approved permanent regional secure units as the costs are incurred and the table also shows the amount of capital allocated to each regional health authority for this purpose.

Regional Health Authority Total revenue allocation 1976–77 to 1981–82 Expenditure on security in psychiatric hospitals 1976–77 to 1981–82 Expenditure on other psychiatric services 1976–77 to 1981–82
West Midlands 4,957 1,725 2,379
Mersey 2,388 1,246 771
North Western 3,913 1,915 1,224
England 44,285 17,902 14,283

Since 1976–77, when central revenue support was made available, RHAs have been asked to use it particularly for the provision of secure facilities, and otherwise to improve other psychiatric services wherever possible. Since 1977–78, the proportion spent on psychiatric services, including secure facilities, has increased steadily from over 60 per cent. to over 90 per cent. in 1981–82. The proportion spent on secure facilities has shown steady annual increases from 7 per cent. in 1976–77 to 60 per cent. in 1981–82.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many permanent regional secure psychiatric units are in operation, and where; and when the remainder will take their first patients.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

The first permanent unit, providing 30 places, opened at St. Luke's hospital, Middlesbrough, in November 1980. Building work has recently been completed on two others, providing between them 90 places. These two units are currently undergoing commissioning and staff recruitment and are expected to open next Spring. Six further developments, providing a total of 332 beds, are under construction and others are at various planning stages. By the end of 1985 over 500 places are expected to be available in 11 units and about 150 additional places are expected to be under construction at that time.