§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest available figures of cost per patient per week of in-patients at each mental handicap and mental illness hospital in the Northern region.
§ Mr. DorrellAs a result of the implementation of the recommendations of the steering group on national health services information—the Korner committee—the costing information submitted by authorities from 1987–88 is no longer compiled on the basis of type of hospital but focuses on district-based treatment costs by specialty/specialty groups within all hospitals.
Information relating to the Northern region for the financial year 1988–89, the latest currently available, is shown in the table. 261W
Average specialty costs per patient day—patients using a bed 1988–89 District Mental handicap £ (cash) Other psychiatric specialties1 £ (cash) Hartlepool 39.98 49.01 North Tees 80.94 62.52 South Tees 65.21 50.67 East Cumbria 41.92 29.08 South Cumbria 42.80 35.43 West Cumbria 30.98 46.05 Darlington 23.56 59.78 Durham 33.21 34.72 North West Durham — 34.88 South West Durham — 29.93 Northumberland 28.11 30.63 Gateshead 52.15 26.94 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 57.04 46.05 North Tyneside — 53.48 South Tyneside 25.85 27.47 Sunderland 64.42 28.75 1 Includes, where applicable, mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy and old-age psychiatry. Notes:
1. The figures may include treatments provided both to in-patients and day cases (those who occupy a bed for at least a period of time but do not stay overnight) under the recommended Korner definition "patients using a bed".
2. The figures cover direct treatment costs only. Expenditure incurred on general services, overheads and capital is excluded.