§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards meeting the National Service Framework for Mental Health in the areas of(a) early intervention, (b) support for carers and (c) waiting times for mental health services; and if he will make a statement. [149867]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonGood progress is being made with implementing the national service framework for mental health.
As part of the programme to develop early intervention services, 27 early intervention teams have been put in place.
In accordance with the national service framework for mental health standard six, carers of people with mental health problems are now entitled to an assessment of their caring, physical and mental health needs and to have their own written care plan. Services are also working towards employing 700 carer support workers by the end of the year.
With the development of new community based mental health services such as crisis resolution teams, progress is also being made with reducing waiting times for mental health services.
688WInformation relating to waiting times for in-patient and out-patient mental health services has been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the target to(a)reduce the duration of untreated psychosis to a service median of less than three months and (b)provide support for the first three years for all young people who develop a first episode of psychosis, by 2004. [150046]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIn line with the commitments outlined in the "NHS Plan" and the "Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–06", early intervention services are being developed across England. As part of this, 27 early intervention teams have been put in place to provide care and treatment for young people who develop a first episode of psychosis.
It is envisaged that the duration of untreated psychosis will decrease as early intervention teams continue to develop across the country.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition he uses of(a)mental health crisis resolution teams, (b) mental health assertive outreach teams, (c)mental health early intervention teams and (d)secure personality disorder places, as established by his Department; and how many of each there are. [150047]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonDetailed service specifications for crisis resolution, early intervention and assertive outreach teams are contained in the "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide" (2001), which is available from the Department's web-site at www. doh.gov.uk/mentalhealth/implementationguide.htm.
There are 238 assertive outreach, 132 crisis resolution and 27 early intervention teams currently in place in England.
Secure personality disorder places are intended for those people who are assessed as dangerous as a result of a severe personality disorder. These services are being designed to treat those people who demonstrate a clear functional link between their personality disorder and their offending behaviour, and who pose a high risk to the public.
A ten bed pilot unit is already in operation and there will be 140 more secure personality disorder places in Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals by the end of the year.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the use of primary care models for treating mental health, with specific reference to the role of general practitioners. [151791]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton[holding answer 29 January 2004]The Department of Health and the Royal College of General Practitioners have produced a framework for implementing a scheme for general practitioners with special interests. As part of this framework; guidelines for primary care trusts and staff have been developed to provide more specific recommendations for general practitioners with a special interest in mental health. These developments 689W are in line with the NHS Plan commitment to recruit up to 1,000 general practitioners with special interests by 2004.
The new general medical services contract offers new incentives and rewards for practices that meet prescribed quality standards in caring for people with mental health problems. Under the general medical services contract primary care trusts may commission enhanced services. Specialist care of people with depression has been identified as a national enhanced service. Primary care trusts may also commission local enhanced services to address locally identified needs.
Services are also working towards the NHS Plan commitment to recruit up to 1,000 graduate mental health workers who are trained in brief therapy techniques of proven effectiveness to help general practitioners treat common mental health problems in primary care.