Mental Health (Hansard, 10 June 2002)

§ Dr. Naysmith
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the new primary care trusts have a mental health specialist responsible for commissioning mental health services. [60568]

§ Jacqui Smith
The Department does not collect information about the qualifications of staff involved following 'Shifting the Balance of Power' in commissioning mental health services. Primary care trusts (PCTs) will provide some services themselves; they will commission service from other providers, both local and non-local; and they will have collaborative arrangements with other PCTs for commissioning highly specialised services. PCTs are accountable to their strategic health authority (StHA) for discharging these functions effectively. In all cases, it will be important to work in partnership with existing stakeholders, pool expertise and ensure sufficient dedicated capacity to develop effective health needs assessments, and plan and secure effective service delivery. We believe that mental health local implementation teams offer a strong and stable platform to continue joint commissioning approaches to mental health service development.

§ Dr. Naysmith
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recourse is available to people requiring particular mental health services at primary care level, when those services are not accessible(a) through their general practitioner and (b) within the area of their primary care trust. [60564]

§ Jacqui Smith
Most patients want the best treatment at a convenient place and service agreements will be designed to secure this. It is why we have embarked on a radical programme of modernisation to improve access, reduce unfair variation, raise standards, and provide quicker and more convenient services. Our programme of work includes a national service framework for the delivery of modern mental health and social services, and significant extra investment.
Following 'Shifting the Balance of Power' primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning services for their populations. They are accountable to their strategic health authority (StHA) for discharging this function effectively. PCTs will provide some services themselves and will also commission service from other 1118W providers, both local and non local. With regard to more specialised services that, by their very nature, are provided from relatively few providers, PCTs will increasingly have collaborative commissioning arrangements with other PCTs. This will enable them to pool expertise and ensure sufficient dedicated capacity to develop effective health needs assessments, and plan and secure delivery of services. In addition, there is the flexibility within the national health service of making referrals into the private sector if, in the judgment of clinicians and commissioners, an individual's needs warrant this, and the service is an appropriate one.

§ Dr. Naysmith
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care trusts have commissioned(a) counselling, (b) cognitive therapy, (c) psychotherapy, (d) complementary therapy and (e) exercise on prescription for people with mental health problems. [60566]

§ Jacqui Smith
Central records are not kept of commissioning by primary care trusts of the services listed. However, we are well aware that these approaches are of benefit in mental health promotion, and in the treatment of mental illness. Clinical decisions about their use for individual patients are taken locally in the context of national guidance, the evidence base, and the available resources. We have set out seven standards for the delivery of effective mental health services in the mental health national service framework. Standards one, two and three set out the action needed to ensure effective access to assessment and treatment in and through primary care. The Department published an evidence based clinical guideline 'Treatment Choice in Psychological Therapies and Counselling' to help guide referrers. 'Making it happen—A guide to delivering mental health promotion' was published by the Department later in 2001; it contains a section entitled Physical activity as treatment', and in March 2001 we published a response to the Lords inquiry on complementary medicine, welcoming the report's recommendations.