§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the total sum of money paid to regional health authorities so far in order that they may provide secure psychiatric units;
(2) what is the total revenue allocation to regional health authorities for 1978–79 for secure psychiatric units;
(3) what has been the total sum paid to regional health authorities for the establishment of regional secure psychiatric units since the direct supplementary financial allowance of 1974.
§ Mr. MoyleAmounts for regional secure units were first made available in 1976–77. The sum of £5–2 million was included in the 1976–77 revenue allocations to regional health authorities and the recurrent effect of this in 1977–78 and 1978–79 was £6.0 million and £6–5 million at the respective forecast out-turn prices. Capital sums are made available to regional health authorities to meet estimated needs. In 1976–77 and 1977–78 the amounts were £54,000 and £226,000, and in 1978–79, to date, £292,000. In 1977–78 only £107,000 was actually expended, but the balance is available for regional secure unit provision in subsequent years.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the regional health authorities spent their special revenue allocations for 1977–78 for providing secure psychiatric units.
§ Mr. MoyleReports from regional health authorities indicate that about 60 per cent. of these allocations were spent 491W on the provision and staffing of interim secure units, the planning and training of staff of permanent units and on non-recurring expenditure for psychiatric services—for example, in one region, the improvement of the care of unpredictable or potentially violent patients. Most of the remainder has been transferred to reserves and carried forward to 1978–79.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give a full account of progress in establishing interim secure psychiatric units;
(2) if, given the failure of the regional health authorities to establish secure psychiatric units, he will establish these as outposts of each of the special hospitals.
§ Mr. MoyleInterim secure psychiatric facilities have been established in six regions, providing about 100 places. Information received from regional health authorities indicates that, by the end of 1979, it is planned to establish over 200 places in interim secure facilities in nine health regions. Ten regional health authorities have sent my Department plans for permanent regional secure units, and it is hoped that the first will be open by about 1980–81 and the remainder by the mid–1980s. While I do not consider that this rate of progress is entirely satisfactory, I acknowledge that this is a difficult area, involving major capital planning and development and in which some health authorities are meeting strong opposition to their plans. I do not consider that it would be practicable or desirable to link organisationally secure psychiatric units within the general National Health Service with special hospitals which are provided for the very limited number of patients who fall in the category defined in section 4 of the National Health Service Act 1977.