HC Deb 30 June 2003 vol 408 cc160-1W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase access to occupational health for those suffering from mental health problems. [119930]

Ms Rosie Winterton

While there are no specific plans to increase access to occupational health for those suffering from mental health problems, the Government is currently exploring a number of ways to improve access to vocational rehabilitation for all workers through Welfare to Work. NHS Plus, launched in November 2001, is currently providing access to local occupational health services to small and medium sized businesses through 107 providers (National Health Service trusts) across the United Kingdom, while the new Job Retention and Rehabilitation pilots, launched on 1 April 2003, and the Incapacity Benefit reforms, announced in the Government's Green Paper, "Pathways to Work", in November 2002, are offering work-focused interventions for those with health problems, including mental health conditions.

In addition, "Making It Happen: A guide to delivering mental health promotion", published by the Department of Health in 2001, contains a section dealing with mental health promotion in the workplace, the National Institute for Mental Health in England is currently preparing a resource on mental health and employment for people with mental health problems for publication in the autumn and the Health and Safety Executive is about to launch an occupational health support pilot scheme for the construction industry.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated for mental health problems in each primary care trust in 2002. [121584]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The table shows the Finished Consultant Episodes in national health service hospitals under mental illness specialties by provider for 2001–02. These are provisional estimates from primary care trusts the Department knows is providing mental health care for patients under mental illness specialties.

Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) in NHS Hospitals under mental illness specialties by provider, 2001–02
Provider code Provider code description Total episodes
5A1 New Forest PCT 0
5A2 Norwich PCT 10
5A9 Barnet PCT
SAC Daventry and South Northamptonshire PCT 0
SAM Mansfield district PCT
5C7 Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT 10
SCO North Dorset PCT 1290
5CN Herefordshire PCT 730
5CQ Milton Keynes PCT 500
5D1 Solihull PCT 20
5DD Morecambe Bay PCT 1580
SDP Vale of Aylesbury PCT 20
SEA Chesterfield PCT 260
5EG North-eastern Derbyshire PCT 330
5F1 Plymouth PCT 1350
5FA Ashfield PCT
5FC Rushcliffe PCT 80
5FD East Hampshire PCT 90
5FE Portsmouth City PCT 120

Notes:

Figures have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in the data

(i.e. the data are ungrossed).

"—" denotes a number less than 5.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

A FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider.

Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list(a) organisations and (b) individuals who have responded to the consultation exercise on the draft Mental Health Bill. [121585]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Government's response to the consultation will be published before the introduction of the Bill.

At that time, copies of responses will be placed in the Library, except in cases where respondents have asked for confidentiality.

Forward to