§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of maintaining a patient in an interim secure unit in those cases 771W where such units are currently in operation.
§ Sir George YoungThis information is not available centrally.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what in 1979 prices would be the likely annual cost of maintaining a patient in a regional secure unit in each health region (a) taking account of capital costs and (b) discounting, capital costs.
§ Sir George YoungPlans are not sufficiently far advanced for estimates to be given for each region. However, four regions have provided estimates of running cost per patient ranging from approximately £10,000 to £15,000 per annum at 1978–79 prices, without taking into account capital costs. Information on the effect of capital expenditure on the cost of maintaining patients at these units is not available.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is now satisfied that all money allocated for regional secure units is now being spent by regional health authorities for the intended purposes.
§ Sir George YoungThe Department will be writing shortly to regional health authorities for information on how they are using their special revenue allocations for regional secure units in 1979–80 and my right hon. Friend will be considering the position in the light of their replies.
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what interim secure units are now operating;
Up to 1 month 1 to 2 months 2 to 3 months 3 to 4 months Over 4 months 1977 … … 7 284 103 8 3 1978 … … 9 225 117 15 5 1979 … … 2 212 101 35 21
§ Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to reduce the length of time between the receipt of a patient's application for, or reference to, a mental health review tribunal and the date of the hearing.
§ Sir George YoungThe staffing and accommodation difficulties which arose
772Wwhat regional secure units are now operating; and when he expects all the planned regional secure units to be operating.
§ Sir George YoungThere are no permanent secure units operating at present, but 11 of the 14 regional health authorities have submitted proposals to the Department. I expect that all of the units now being planned should be operational by the mid-'80s.
Health authorities advise that interim secure units have been established as follows:
Region Hospital Northern … St. Luke's Yorkshire … Storthes Hall Stanley Royd High Royds Wessex … Knowle West Midlands … Coleshill Hall Mersey … Rainhill Parkside North Western … Prestwich There are also other secure facilities available for disturbed mentally handicapped patients at Aston Hall (Trent), Little Plumstead (Fast Anglia), Leavesden (North-West Thames) and Calderstones (North Western).