HC Deb 11 December 1995 vol 268 cc523-4W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he has made for(a) the inspections, (b) the drawing up of reports and the drawing up of recommendations to him by persons he appoints (i) directly and (ii) indirectly, in respect of private psychiatric hospitals where fees for patients are paid for by national health service purchasers. [4623]

Mr. Bowls

Private psychiatric hospitals are subject to registration and inspection by health authorities under part II of the Registered Homes Act 1984. The primary concern of the registering authority is to ensure that the level of care provided is sufficient and suitable to meet the needs of individual patients.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what public funds have been paid to Partnerships in Care in respect of psychiatric treatment for patients paid for by purchasing bodies of the national health service in the financial year 1994–95; and if he will list the number of establishments concerned and the approximate number of patients for whom fees were paid; [4622]

(2) what public funds have been expended in respect of Mr. Stephen Laudat arising from his residential treatment at Kneesworth hospital. [4621]

Mr. Bowis

This information is not available centrally and it is not the practice to give details of the cost relating to the care of individuals.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the names and locations of the secure hospitals establishments(a) owned and (b) run by the firm Partnerships in Care, used by national health service purchasers, indicating for each (i) the number of beds, (ii) the number occupied by national health service patients and (iii) the number of qualified psychiatrists on the staff; [4606]

(2) what is the minimum number of persons with qualifications in psychiatric medicine that he requires, in full-time equivalent, to be on the staff of private psychiatric hospitals providing secure accommodation for national health service patients; and if he will indicate the nature of the qualifications required. [4620]

Mr. Bowis

Under the Registered Homes Act 1984, health authorities are required to register and inspect all mental nursing homes including privately owned secure hospitals in their catchment area. The Act requires that the health authority must satisfy itself that the home provides sufficient and suitable professional, technical, ancillary and other staff having regard to the size of the home and the number, age, sex and condition of the patients therein. Information about individual establishments is not available centrally.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which trusts and health authorities have now implemented the care programme approach for people discharged from psychiatric hospitals; and which have not. [5060]

Mr. Bowis

We have asked health authorities and trusts to ensure, as a matter of urgency, that the care programme approach is applied to all patients who have been accepted for care by the specialist psychiatric services. The latest reports suggest that this objective will largely be achieved by March 1996.

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