HC Deb 22 April 1996 vol 276 cc23-4W
Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric beds have been provided for children and adolescents by(a) the NHS and (b) the independent sector for each year since 1979. [26186]

Mr. Bowis

Information on the number of psychiatric beds provided for adolescents is not available.

Data on the number of child psychiatric beds are contained in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library. The latest year for which data are available is 1994–95.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been admitted to psychiatric care for each year since 1979. [26187]

Mr. Bowis

The information is shown in the table.

Admission to psychiatric care in national health service hospitals: England 1979–1986, 1989–90 to 1994–95
Age group
Year 0–14 15–19
1979 1,910 5,810
1980 2,040 5,960
1981 1,990 6,030
1982 1,890 5,450
1983 1,890 5,460
1984 1,870 5,530
1985 1,900 5,440
1986 1,780 5,270
1989–90 2,600 5,600
1990–91 2,600 5,000
1991–92 2,300 4,900
1992–93 2,900 5,600
1993–94 3,100 5,700
1994–951 3,100 5,400
1 Provisional figures

Notes:

1. Figures for 1979 to 1986 are based on calendar years and are derived from the Mental Health Enquiry.

2. Figures for 1989–90 to 1994–95 are estimabased on the number of hospital episodes in the financial year. The two sources are not consistent in their definition of admissions so there is some discontinuity in the data. Reliable data are not available for 1987–88 and 1988–89.

Source:

1979 to 1986 Mental Health Enquiry.

1989–90 to 1994–95 Hospital Episode Statistics.