Mental Health (Hansard, 21 June 2004)

§ Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's targets are on the provision of single sex accommodation for mental health inpatients; and how many mental health trusts meet those targets. [178747]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The Department has set three objectives to support the delivery of single-sex accommodation, designed to deliver single-sex sleeping accommodation, segregated bathroom and washing facilities and safe facilities for the mentally ill. The objectives apply to all national health service organisations providing inpatient accommodation.
The Department set a target for the achievement of each of these objectives in 95 per cent. of NHS trusts by December 2002. I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 14 January 2003, Official Report, column 24WS.
Compliance with the objectives is measured at a national level rather than by trust type, as mental health services are not provided exclusively by mental health trusts. Levels of compliance have continued to rise. By December 2003: 99 per cent. of all NHS trusts provided single-sex sleeping accommodation for planned admissions and have robust operational policies in place to protect patients' privacy and dignity; 99 per cent. of all NHS trusts met the additional criteria set to ensure the safety of patients who are mentally ill; and 97 per cent. of all NHS trusts provided properly segregated bathroom and toilet facilities for men and women.
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The small number of NHS trusts which have yet to achieve the objectives have hospital development works under way, whose completion will bring them to the required standard.

§ Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the safe facilities for patients in hospitals who are mentally ill which are intended to safeguard patients' privacy and dignity as set out in Safety, Policy and Dignity in mental health units (DoH 2000). [178748]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
In 1997, the Department set three objectives to support the delivery of single-sex accommodation, designed to deliver single-sex sleeping accommodation, segregated bathroom and washing facilities and safe facilities for the mentally ill. The objectives apply to all national health service organisations providing inpatient accommodation.
"Safety, privacy and dignity in mental health units" was published in 2000 to reinforce earlier guidance on the delivery of the Department's objectives. It should be read in conjunction with "Modernising Mental Health Services" and the national service framework for mental health. It is for NHS trusts to determine how best to ensure the safety, privacy and dignity of patients, in view of differing local circumstances.
By December 2003, 99 per cent. of all NHS trusts had met the objective to provide safe facilities for patients in hospitals who are mentally ill. Compliance with the standard is measured at a national level rather than by trust type, as mental health services are not provided exclusively by mental health trusts.
The small number of NHS trusts who have yet to achieve the objective have hospital development works under way, whose completion will bring them to the required standard.

§ Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how mental health patients' experience of being treated in hospital is used to inform(a) local and (b) national policies on the provision of facilities which ensure good standards of privacy and dignity. [178751]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The Department considers the issue of patients' privacy and dignity to be of paramount importance.
Every national health service hospital is routinely inspected by patient environment action teams, which were first established in 2000 to help drive up standards of cleanliness and tidiness across the NHS. As part of their visit, these teams also review patient privacy and dignity to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained. The Healthcare Commission also assess this aspect of patient care during the completion of their clinical governance reviews.
It is for NHS trusts to determine what use is made at a local level of the feedback from these inspection processes. At a national level, feedback from patients and carers is used in the review and revision of guidance on the achievement of single-sex accommodation to ensure that hospitals are providing an environment which meets patients' needs and expectations.
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§ Tony Lloyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of funding for mental health services is for the current financial year; and how much it was in 1997–98. [177742]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
It is not possible to estimate the level of funding for mental health services in 1997–98.
The NHS Plan announced an extra annual investment of over £300 million by 2003–04 to fast-forward the national service framework for mental health.
For the latest round of allocations for 2003–04 to 2005–06, none of the growth money has been identified for specific purposes.
It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.