§ Lord Mottistoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they plan to ensure that the provision of sound mental health services in London is built up at a faster rate than the rate of reduction of the hospital beds those services are intended to replace.
§ The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The Government believe that there should be an appropriate range of mental health services in London as elsewhere. The Mental Health Task Force London Project is helping district health authorities to assess current services for severely mentally ill people and to draw up action plans to improve services where necessary. The task force is due to report to Ministers later this summer. Part of its national work has been to ensure that adequate alternatives are available before any hospital is closed.