§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places are available in secure units in mental hospitals in(a) the Walsall area, (b) Birmingham, (c) Staffordshire, (d) Warwickshire, (e) Sandwell, (f) Dudley and (g) Worcestershire; what is the current occupancy level; and how many vacancies currently exist. [5858]
§ Mr. BurnsAll west midlands health authorities have access to a range of services from high secure facilities nationally through regional secure provision to more local, low secure and intensive care provision. Medium secure services are currently provided by the South Birmingham Mental Health NHS trust and the Foundation NHS trust in Staffordshire. These units provide 90 and 28 beds respectively. Occupancy levels and numbers of existing vacancies fluctuate regularly according to demand. For further information the hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Anne Hingley and Mr. Roy Trainor, chairmen of the two trusts.
§ Mr. GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of accommodation in the secure units of mental hospitals. [5857]
§ Mr. BurnsThis is a matter for individual health authorities who are responsible for commissioning both secure and non-secure services for mentally ill people in their area. The national health service executive regional offices recently undertook a review of management performance in purchasing comprehensive mental health services and the results were published in "A Review of Purchasing of Mental Health Services by Health Authorities in England (1996)", copies of which are available in the Library.