§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been since 1986 in the collection of figures on closures of mental hospitals and loss of beds in mental hospitals; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr YeoIn April 1987 a new system of data collection covering hospital activity and facilities was introduced followed the recommendations of the Korner committee. The new inquiry into available beds in England replaced an earlier inquiry discontinued after 1986. The new inquiry differed in being on a financial year basis and in classifying beds according to ward type, but figures for beds in mental illness wards continued to be separately collected.
The information on the closure of mental hospitals has not been collected centrally on a routine basis since 1991.In order to carry forward its work, the mental health task force led by David King will in future need to collect information of this type.
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