HC Deb 06 February 1995 vol 254 cc26-7W
Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many physical assaults on staff and patients, including self-inflicted injuries, occurred on psychiatric wards in London in the last year that figures are available.

Mr. Bowis

National health service trusts and other providers of in-patient psychiatric services will collect information on assaults and self-inflicted injuries by patients to help them monitor the quality of service they provide. Health authorities and other purchasers can obtain details through the contracting process. We do not require information to be submitted to the Department.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the bed occupancy rate for psychiatric wards in national health service hospitals and trusts in(a) London, (b) Birmingham and (c) Manchester; and what is the method by which the bed occupancy rate is measured.

Mr. Bowis

Health authorities and providers of acute psychiatric services are familiar with the concept of bed occupancy and the Department has not sought to specify the method they should use to calculate occupancy rates. Average bed occupancy rates can be agreed as part of the contracting process and will relate to local circumstances. We do not require information about bed occupancy rates to be submitted to the Department.

Mr. Alex Carlile

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what mechanism her Department monitors the effectiveness of mental health care services in London, Birmingham and Manchester; how often data are collected; what measurements are used; and how long after any data are collected they are published.

Mr. Bowis

The North Thames and South Thames, West Midlands and North West regional offices of the National Health Service Executive monitor the effectiveness of mental health services in London, Birmingham and Manchester respectively by working closely with district health authorities which are responsible for assessing the health needs of their local population and securing an appropriate range of services to meet those needs.