§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the statement by Professor Sir David Goldberg of the Institute of Psychiatry that only Tehran and Bangladore, India, have fewer psychiatrists per 100,000 people than London.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)While it is not straightforward to draw conclusions about the delivery of health services in the United Kingdom as compared to other countries (as the configuration of services may differ widely), we have already taken steps to understand and address the particular problems of mental health services in London.
§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the league table compiled by Professor Sir David Goldberg of the Institute of Psychiatry, which suggests that London occupies the lowest place amongst industrialised cities in its care for the mentally ill by virtue of having fewer hospital beds, fewer psychiatrists and a lower amount of cash available for treatment.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonLondon does face significant and complex mental health problems and that is why all London health authorities have received real terms increases in their allocations for 1997–98 and will also receive real terms increases for 1998–99. Targeted mental health funds amounting to £16 million through the Mental Health Challenge Fund, the Emergency Pressures Fund and the mentally Disordered Offenders Strategic Assistance Fund have also been received by London health authorities.
§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many psychiatrists there are in the United Kingdom dealing with the mentally-ill full time.
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§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThere were 7,520 psychiatrists in Great Britain on 30 September 1996 (the whole time equivalent figure was 6,130), of whom 5,130 worked full time.
- Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
- Information for Northern Ireland will not be available until December.
- Source: the Medical and Dental Workforce Census 30 September 1996.
§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many mentally-ill people there are; how many beds in secure places there are for them; and how many beds in hospitals or other insecure places there are, in each case specifying the figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonA survey conducted in Great Britain in 1993 established that about one in six adults between the ages of 16 and 64 suffered from a neurotic disorder in the week before interview and about four per 1,000 had suffered from a psychotic disorder in the previous 12 months. There was no significant difference in the rates for England, Scotland and Wales. Only a small proportion of mentally ill people will need in-patient or residential care. The following tables show the facilities available in England, Wales and Scotland.
England: Beds and places for mentally ill people Number Places in high security hospitals—31 March 19971 1,440 Other NHS facilities: average daily available beds—1996/97 Secure beds 1,580 Other beds (excluding NHS managed residential beds) Adults 19,910 Elderly patients 15,600 Children 540 NHS managed residential beds 1,160 Places in private nursing homes and hospitals—March 1996 Adults (including children) 5,300 Elderly patients 22,140 Places in staffed residential homes (excluding small homes)—March 1996 Adults 13,370 Elderly mentally ill patients 10,670 Places in small registered homes—March 1996 1,910 1 High security beds in England are also used for patients from Wales. 305WA
Wales: Available beds and places for mentally ill people Number NHS facilities: average daily available beds—1996/97 Secure beds 33 Other beds—by specialty Mental illness 1,227 Old age psychiatry 1,356 Child and adolescent psychiatry 33 Places in private nursing homes and hospitals—March 1996 2,194 Places in staffed residential homes—March 1996 Adults 727 Elderly mentally infirm patients 237
Scotland: Available beds and places Number High security beds—October 19971 252 NHS facilities: average daily available beds—year ending 30 June 1997 Mental illness 4,264 Old age psychiatry 4,657 Child and adolescent psychiatry 77 Residents (all ages) with mental health problems in private nursing homes and hospitals—March 19962 3,458 Places in staffed residential homes for mentally ill people— March 1996 1,223 1 High security beds in Scotland are also used for patients from Northern Ireland. 2 Data on places for patients with mental health problems cannot be separately identified so figures on residents have been supplied instead. Northern Ireland
The number of designated mentally ill people in Northern Ireland who had contact with Health and Social Services Trusts in 1995–96 (the latest year for which such figures are available) was 11,278. These figures exclude patients suffering from dementia, people 306WA receiving care from their GP only, and people not in contact with statutory social services staff in respect of mental illness. The breakdown by age is as follows:
Age Number 0–15 191 16–24 7,038 65 and over 2,445 Age unknown 1,604 Total 11,278 The average number of available beds in 1995–96 in wards open overnight for people in mental illness specialties (including child and adolescent psychiatry and old age psychiatry) was 2,045. It is not possible to provide an age breakdown of this figure. In addition, there were 557 occupied places in residential accommodation solely for mentally ill persons as at 31 March 1996. These figures also exclude those suffering from dementia.