HC Deb 22 April 2002 vol 384 cc109-10W
Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of delays in cases waiting for a mental health review tribunal hearing; and how many patients are waiting for a mental health review tribunal hearing. [42938]

Jacqui Smith

The Department is responsible for providing administrative support to the tribunal including the handling of applications and organisation of hearings. Every effort is made to ensure that cases of patients detained under section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983 are heard within the statutory time limit of seven days that is set out in the Act. All other applications are scheduled for hearing as soon as possible following receipt. During the period January 2001 to December 2001 20,274 application were received in England and 11,765 hearings were held. The difference between the number of applications made and the number of cases heard is accounted for by applicants withdrawing of their own volition, adjournment of hearings on the authority of the regional chairmen, change in status of the patient's detention under the Act or discharge from detention by the responsible medical officer before the date of the hearing. Of 3,646 section 2 cases heard during the period 22 per cent. were disposed of outside the statutory time limit. The average waiting times for hearings are shown in the table.

Average waiting times (January to December 2001)
Time
Section 2 7.5 days
Non-restricted 7.6 weeks
Restricted 18.8 weeks

Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is allocated to mental health care per capita(a) for patients in prisons and (b) for patients who are not in prison, in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [43557]

Jacqui Smith

The majority of funding for mental health care is allocated as part of health authority general allocations and separate figures for mental health care are not available. It is not therefore possible to provide details of funding allocated to mental health care per capita.

Harry Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinics(a) in London and (b) in England offer electric shock therapy for forms of mental illness. [48868]

Jacqui Smith

The information requested is not held centrally.

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