HC Deb 17 May 1994 vol 243 c418W
Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what way the National Health Service Executive takes account of the views of the carers of those for whom mental health services are provided.

Mr. Bowis

The National Health Service Executive is committed to involving both users and carers. It is involved in the NHS executive's mental health task force London project. The mental health task force has also commissioned the National Schizophrenia Fellowship to undertake a survey on the experiences and needs of people caring for someone with mental illness.

Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide further information about the tool kit of measures relating to performance management of mental health services reported in evidence to the House of Commons Health Committee in December 1993, by the director of the mental health task force.

Mr. Bowis

The mental health task force has initiated an annual survey, now in its second year, of progress on reprovision of old-style long-stay services. This information is now being combined with other information on the full range of mental health services provided by health and social services to enable comparisons to be made at health authority level across England. This analysis will be available to support performance management in the national health service executive regional offices and in purchasing authorities.

Guidance to purchasers on specifying a service for severely mentally ill people is also in preparation. A range of other materials highlighting best practice have been or are about to be published, including a series of videos on innovative service provision and publications on releasing fixed costs and on approaches to reproviding services across three regions.

Dr. Lynne Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will now establish a permanent inter departmental advisory group on mental health; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Bowis

We are considering the Health Select Committee's recommendation on this and will respond to the Committee shortly.