§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all regional secure units showing the number of places in each and the occupancy figures.
§ Mr. John PattenI refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 7 March at columns618–19, to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell).
The position in two regions has advanced since then. Building work has now started on the 40-bed permanent RSU at St. Bernard's hospital, Ealing, (North-West Thames) and patients are now being admitted to the permanent RSU at St. Andrew's hospital, Norwich, (East Anglian region).
At the beginning of July the number of beds staffed and available in the six permanent RSUs now open was as follows:
253W
Region and location Bed complement No. of beds staffed and available Northern St. Lukes hospital, Middlesbrough 30 25 Trent Towers hospital, Leicester 60 15 East Anglian St. Andrews hospital, Norwich 36 10 North East Thames Runwell hospital near Southend 10 10 South Western Landgon hospital, Dawlish, nr. Exeter 30 10 Mersy Rainhill hospital, Prescot, St. Helens 50 36 Totals 216 106 When a unit opens, beds are generally brought into use on a phased basis. The number of staffed and available beds which are occupied by patients will fluctuate from day to day: information on this is not collected centrally.
In addition to beds available in permanent RSUs, there are nearly 300 beds in 15 declared interim secure units and about 900 beds in other secure facilities including special care wards.