§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to ensure that full emergency cover is available in residential psychiatric units; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. BowisThe responsibility for ensuring that residential psychiatric units are adequately staffed to cover emergencies rests with the managers of individual units. Where health authorities and local authorities are purchasing services from residential psychiatric units, they should satisfy themselves that satisfactory arrangements exist to deal with emergencies, as part of the contracting process.
Private and voluntary homes providing residential care or nursing care for people with psychiatric illnesses are required to register with the relevant local authority or health authority. The authority must be satisfied that the home's staffing arrangements, including those for emergency cover, are adequate before approving registration.