HC Deb 17 December 2003 vol 415 cc996-7W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has met its most recent target to deliver assertive outreach for severe mental illness; and if he will make a statement. [143708]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Department has met the NHS Plan target to establish a total of 220 assertive outreach teams for patients with severe mental illness and complex problems who regularly disengage from services. We are encouraged by the progress made so far and we will be reviewing the level of need for assertive outreach services by the end of the financial year.

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many child and adolescent mental health services inpatient beds were provided in each year since 1997(a) in total, (b) in England and (c) in each local authority; how many are planned to be provided in the next two years; and if he will make a statement. [143709]

Dr. Ladyman

The information is not collected in the form requested. The table shows the average daily number of beds available in the national health service classified as 'Mental Illness: Children'.

In the three years to March 2006, we will be investing an additional £250 million in child and adolescent mental health services provided by the national health service and local authorities for them to further develop their services.

Average daily number of available beds by ward classification, England, 1997–98 to 2002–03
Department of Health form KHO3
Mental illness:

Children

Learning disabilities:

Children

1997–98 522 380
1 998–99 538 363
1999–00 482 376
2000–01 531 376
2001–02 484 274
2002–03 504 409
Notes:
1999–2000 and 2001–02 incomplete data.
There is not a separate ward classification in the data collection for adolescent beds. NHS Trusts providing services specifically for adolescents may record the beds as "Children's" or as "Other ages"—the latter includes all the adult provision.
Source:
Department of Health form KHO3

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health(a) how much and (b) what proportion of mental health expenditure has been spent on child and adolescent services in each of the last five years. [143710]

Dr. Ladyman

This information is not available centrally. However our estimate for likely mental health expenditure in 2002–03 and the proportion spent on child and adolescent services is shown in the table.

We recognise that much still needs to be done to improve child and adolescent mental health. The work of the child and adolescent mental health module of the children's national service framework will do much to inform future plans.

Estimated mental health expenditure 2002–03
Child and adolescent mantal health services Adult mantal health Elderly Total
Hospital community

health service (millions)

331 3,476 248 4,055
Percentage 8 86 6 100
Personal social services

(millions)

281 739 418 1,438
Percentage 20 51 29 100
Total (millions) 612 4,216 666 5,494
Percentage 11 77 12 100
Notes:
1. The table above is based on estimated projections of expenditure, not actual expenditure. HCHS figures, for instance, are only available up to 2000–01 and PSS figures are only available up to 2001–02. Relevant figures are taken from this year's Departmental Report (Chapter 6) and have been used to update the projections given previously. The actual figures for 2000–01 HCHS spend on mental health were higher than had been previously projected.
2. CAMHS costs are based on estimates from 2002 projected forward in line with increases in overall expenditure. They may underestimate CAMHS expenditure, as they do not account for any new policy developments.
3. HCHS costs exclude the cost of drugs. PSS costs include children's social services where relevant

Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings in the Wanless Report of April 2002 relating to the spending increases required to implement the National Service Framework for mental health by 2010–11. [143716]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Following the Wanless final report, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his 2002 Budget, announced the biggest ever-sustained real terms growth in history of national health service, to create a world-class health system. Health spending is to grow on average by 7.2 per cent. per annum in the United Kingdom in real terms over next five years—from £68.1 billion to £109.4 billion in 2007–08.

In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", primary care trusts have not been given allocations specifically for mental health but have received a block allocation with which to provide the services as set out in the NHS Plan, the national service frameworks and to meet local need. A proportion of the increases for total health spend will relate to mental health service and the Department will be monitoring the increase through annual financial mapping exercises.