HC Deb 17 June 1994 vol 244 c687W
Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients have been contracted out for treatment to the private sector in each year since 1979.

Mr. Bowis

This is a matter for each health authority.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is normal practice for a psychiatric patient who is admitted to a ward and then subsequently transferred to another ward to be registered in both wards.

Mr. Bowis

No.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances it is the practice for newly admitted psychiatric patients to be admitted into the vacant beds of other psychiatric patients who are away or on leave for the weekend from their registered hospital.

Mr. Bowis

Patients would be admitted in this way only if there were no other beds available in the hospital and when, in the clinical judgment of the consultant in consultation with the nurse in charge of the relevant ward, such action was appropriate.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and para-medical staff working in psychiatric wards in mental health trust hospitals have sustained non-accidental injuries from patients in each year since 1985.

Mr. Bowis

This information will be held by individual hospitals and trusts.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is normal practice to register the re-admission of a psychiatric patient on return to their mental health unit from a general hospital on receiving treatment for a physical condition.

Mr. Bowis

Transfers between psychiatric and other units are recorded on the clinical notes, with registration taking place at the first admission to the psychiatric unit.

Mr. McCartney

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many high security psychiatric patients were admitted to psychiatric wards in non-high secure units in England and Wales in the period from 1985 to 1993.

Mr. Bowis

The assessment of whether a patient requires treatment in conditions of high security is made by an admissions panel at each of the three special hospitals. All patients assessed as requiring such treatment are admitted to the special hospital.

Forward to