§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which of the recommendations of the Spokes inquiry report, Cm 440, have been implemented; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Spokes report made 30 recommendations. Four of these—recommendations 22, 25, 26 and 27 —are covered by the care programme approach, HC(90)23/LASSL(90)11, which health authorities in collaboration with local authority social services departments were required to implement as from 1 April 1991.
A clarification of health and local authorities statutory duties to provide after-care for former mentally disordered hospital patients—recommendation 23—is contained in the Mental Health Act 1983 code of practice, laid before Parliament in 1989.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has prepared a document entitled "Good Medical Practice in the Aftercare of Potentially Violent or Vulnerable Patients discharged from Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment" which it plans to circulate to its members in December 1991— recommendation 24.
The new diploma in social work is being introduced. This allows students to specialise in their final year of training. One area of specialist study is mental health. The training of social workers for approval under the Mental Health Act 1983, section 114, now lasts for 60 days and local authorities are also expected to provide their approved social workers with refresher training—recommendation 21.
The Housing Corporation's special needs housing programme provides accommodation for people with special needs, including the mentally ill, at the rate of 3,000 bedspaces per year. In addition, revenue funding for special needs is due to increase from £36.5 million to over £95 million in the period 1990–93. The needs of single mentally ill people will continue to receive high priority —recommendation 28.
The remaining recommendations are regarded as matters of good practice on which no further Government action is required. The recommendations have been drawn to the attention of health and local authorities and the relevant professional bodies which are expected to have taken them into account in developing their own working and training procedures.