HC Deb 01 August 1984 vol 65 cc350-2W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide full details of the use made by each regional health authority of the money allocated to it for the establishment of regional secure psychiatric units which has been used other than for this purpose.

Mr. Patten

Information collected by the Department shows that, when regional health authorities are unable to spend all of their RSU allocation on the provision of secure facilities, they are, as we have requested, spending most of the remaining funds on other psychiatric services. More detailed information on its use is not available centrally.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects regional secure psychiatric units to be established in each regional health authority area; and what steps he is taking to improve progress.

Mr. John Patten

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 7 March at columns618–619. In addition to the five permanent regional secure units which were open in March, a 36-bed unit at St. Andrew's hospital, Norwich admitted its first patients in May and a 48-bed unit at Fieldhead hospital, Wakefield, became operational on 31 July. A 20-bed unit for adolescents at Prestwich hospital, Manchester, is completed and is due to open in October 1984. I am sending the hon. Member a table which

Revenue Allocations
£ thousands
RSU revenue allocations
Regional Health Authority 1983–84 1984–85 1976–77 to 1984–85 Revenue expenditure on provision of secure facilities
Northern 750 780 5,210 2,750
Yorkshire 865 895 5,970 3,000
Trent 1,110 1,150 7,660 900
East Anglian 440 455 3,030 460
North-West Thames 850 880 5,820 1,290
North-East Thames 915 945 6,260 600
South-East Thames 505 525 4,940 2,170
Bethlem and Maudsley SHA 380 395 1,140 360
South-West Thames 710 735 4,890 2,000
Wessex 640 665 4,440 2,010
Oxford 535 555 3,690 900
South-Western 765 790 5,280 840
West Midlands 1,265 1,310 8,730 2,530
Mersey 610 630 4,210 1,830
North-Western 1,000 1,035 6,900 2,720
Total 11,340 11,745 78,170 24,350

Note: Figures are independently rounded.

Capital allocations
Amounts in £ thousands
Regional health authority RSU capital allocations and expenditure 1977–78 to 1983–84
Northern 1,200
Yorkshire 1,630
Trent 2,690
East Anglian 1,680
North-West Thames 520
North-East Thames 340
South-East Thames *6,120
South-West Thames
Wessex 290
Oxford
South-Western 2,460
West Midlands 300
Mersey 2,140
North-Western 4,040
Total 23,400

summarises the latest information available on RSUs, including estimated opening dates of units under construction or planned.

We are now seeing real progress across the country in the establishment of regional secure units. We will continue to take a close interest in this developing service and to encourage regional health authorities to make further progress.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the special revenue allocation for 1983–84 and 1984–85 made to each regional health authority for regional secure psychiatric units, the total revenue capital received so far by each regional health authority, and the amount so far spent by each regional health authority on regional secure units.

Mr. John Patten

The information requested is set out in the tables. Information on revenue expenditure on the provision of secure facilities is not yet available for 1983–84. No capital allocations have yet been made in 1984–85.

* Includes Bethlem and Maudsley SHA.

Note: Figures are independently rounded.