§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking in conjunction with his counterparts in the Department for Education and Skills to promote awareness of links between physical and mental health in young people. [144842]
§ Dr. LadymanThe children's national service framework (NSF) will provide an integrated view across all aspects of child health and development including the promotion of good physical and mental health of young people in schools and elsewhere. The Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health are working jointly on the development of the NSF.
Ministers in the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills have many regular meetings in which they have discussed health promotion and emotional well-being. In addition, officials at both Departments meet frequently to discuss services for children.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for an appointment in mental health for patients under the age of 18 in(a) England and (b) each strategic health authority was in each of the last six years. [143711]
§ Mr. HuttonThe tables show the average (median) waiting times for first consultant out-patient appoint following general practitioner referral for the specialty child and adolescent psychiatry. As strategic health authorities have only been in existence since April 2002, it has only been possible to provide figures for one year.
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Average (median) waiting times for 1st consultant out-patient appointment following GP referral: child & adolescent psychiatry: England Median waiting times (weeks) 1997–98 6.4 1998–99 6.1 1999–2000 5.9 2000–01 5.2 2001–02 6.5 2002– 03 6.8 Source:
Department of Health form QM08.