§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in relation to the needs of long-stay psychiatric patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Government's policy is that the care provided to people with mental health problems should match their needs and should be 233W provided to them in homely settings in local communities, rather than in institutions. The Secretary of State has, therefore, established a programme of bridging finance, totalling approximately £15 million per annum, to facilitate the transfer from institutional to community care. Health boards, local authorities and housing agencies are working together, with the involvement where appropriate of the Scottish Office, to plan the transition in detail. Resources will transfer from health boards to local authorities, reflecting changes in lead responsibilities for providing care to certain clients. The detailed implementation of this approach is for local negotiation between the agencies concerned.
§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in response to his plans to transfer 600 long-stay mental health places into the community in 1994-95; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe Secretary of State has received representations this year on all aspects of care in the community only three of which specifically related to the number of transfers.
Every discharge will continue to be considered on the basis of clinical judgment based on individual assessments of needs and how these needs could best be provided. The scale and pace of transfers are properly matters of local negotiation between the agencies concerned.
The figure of 600 transfers is the current estimate of transfers that could reasonably be funded each year with support from the £15 million available annually under the bridging finance scheme.