§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of medium and long-stay beds available in NHS psychiatric hospitals and trusts in England and by region in each year from 1984–85 to 1991–92.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) short-stay, (b) medium-stay and (c) long-stay psychiatric beds were available in each region in each year from 1982.
§ Mr. BowisThe available information will be placed in the Library. Beds are classified as either short stay or long stay, and are shown in total prior to 1987–88. Information for 1992–93 is provisional.
§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many short and long-stay beds are provided for patients in private and NHS other hospitals illustrated in figure 2 of the Yates report.
§ Mr. BowisThe breakdown between long and short-stay beds is not available for the private sector. In 1991–92 there were 12,600 mental illness beds in privately registered nursing homes or hospitals and 22,000 short-stay and 27,000 long-stay beds in mental illness wards in national health service hospitals in England.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what response she has given to the Royal College of Psychiatrists recommendation that the closure of mental hospitals should not go ahead until alternative services are in place.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist on levels of community provision for people with mental health problems required in an area before a mental hospital can be closed.
§ Mr. BowisThe mental illness key area handbook gives guidance on the range of service provision needed for adult psychiatric services in the community, copies of which are available in the Library.