HC Deb 20 January 1997 vol 288 cc492-6W
Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 January,Official Report, column 175, relating to funds returned to the general allocation for 1997–98, if he will provide the information separately in respect of patients with mental illness and patients with learning disabilities. [11638]

Mr. Burns

The information requested is not available centrally.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what extra allocation has been given to health authorities for 1997–98 in respect of(a) mental illness and (b) learning disability; and if he will list the authorities receiving such extra funding; [11637]

(2) if he will list by health authority and other appropriate bodies the reductions in 1997–98 in the special allocation which funds (a) the care of patients with mental illness admitted before June 1970 and (b) patients with learning disabilities admitted before June 1970 in (i) hospital-based and (ii) community-based accommodation. [11639]

Mr. Horam

All health authorities have received increases in their general allocations for 1997–98. It is for individual health authorities to decide the level of resources to allocate to mental illness and learning disability.

In addition, £25 million has been set aside centrally to support the further development of mental health services, comprising a new challenge fund of £10 million, and £15 million for further facilities for mentally disordered offenders. Details of the health authorities that will benefit from this extra funding will be announced shortly.

Changes for 1997–98 in the level of funding to health authorities for the old long stay—OLS—special allocation, which funds the care of patients with a mental illness admitted before 1 January 1971 and patients with a learning disability admitted before 1 January 1970, are shown in the table.

Some 0.1 per cent. of the growth in health authority general allocations is in place of the net reduction in the OLS special allocation to ensure that spending on mental health and people with learning difficulties can be maintained. These increases are shown in the table.

£000s
Health authorities A 0.1 per cent growth in general allocations B Increases in OLS special allocation C Reduction OLS special allocation
Avon 400 2,095
Barking and Havering 179 70
Barnet 147
Barnsley 102 271
Bedfordshire 208 387
Berkshire 286 896
Bexley and Greenwich 211' 599
Birmingham 475 643
Bradford 213 35
Brent and Harrow 226 99
Bromley 127 36
Buckinghamshire 245 14
Bury and Rochdale 172 108

£000s
Health authorities A 0.1 per cent growth in general allocations B Increases in OLS special allocation C Reduction OLS special allocation
Calderdale and Kirklees 254 197
Cambridge and Huntingdon 158 200
Camden and Islington 238 287
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 212 217
County Durham 277 124
Coventry 133
Croydon 143 627
Doncaster 129 241
Dorset 308 54
Dudley 126 396
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow 340 1,296
East and North Hertfordshire 192 231
East Kent 269 222
East Lancashire 236 93
East London and the City 340
East Norfolk 253 176
East Riding 244 252
East Surrey 173 2,680
East Sussex, Brighton and Hove 348 729
Enfield and Haringey 233 772
Gateshead and South Tyneside 176 71
Gloucestershire 229 46
Herefordshire 68 95
Hillingdon 110 296
Isle of Wight 64 15
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster 196 1,148
Kingston and Richmond 148 184
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham 413 8
Leeds 316
Leicestershire 352 1,470
Lincolnshire 262 240
Liverpool 239 52
Manchester 236 420
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth 305 184—
Morecambe Bay 143
Newcastle and North Tyneside 232
North and East Devon 209 363
North and Mid Hampshire 206 1,333
North Cheshire 143
North Cumbria 135 106
North Derbyshire 158
North Essex 344 221
North Nottinghamshire 162 278
North Staffordshire 207 318
North West Anglia 167 80
North West Lancashire 218 235

£000s
Health authorities A 0.1 per cent growth in general allocations B Increases in OLS special allocation C Reduction OLS special allocation
North Yorkshire 298 156
Northamptonshire 236 101
Northumberland 132 74
Nottingham 266 169
Oxfordshire 217 69
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire 226 1,087
Redbridge and Waltham Forest 218
Rotherham 112 71
Salford and Trafford 209 27
Sandwell 137 156
Sefton 135 54
Sheffield 254 41
Shropshire 166 77
Solihull 79 232
Somerset 197 83
South and West Devon 263 259
South Cheshire 274 38
South Derbyshire 230 19
South Essex 281 682
South Humber 137 63
South Lancashire 131
South Staffordshire 226 43
Southampton and South West Hampshire 218 171
St. Helen's and Knowsley 150 26
Stockport 117
Suffolk 264 274
Sunderland 138 262
Tees 250 46
Wakefield 143 134
Walsall 112 3
Warwickshire 207 159
West Hertfordshire 221 826
West Kent 381 55
West Pennine 210
West Surrey 260 55
West Sussex 318 553
Wigan and Bolton 252 360
Wiltshire 238 35
Wirral 152
Wolverhampton 110
Worcestershire 211 14
Total 21,412 3,942 23,742

1. All figures are at 1997–98 prices.

2. Figures may not sum exactly due to roundings.

3. Columns B and C show changes between the 1996–98 OLS special allocation.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the decisions of mental health review tribunals that are contrary to the advice of the responsible medical officer. [11494]

Mr. Burns

Mental health review tribunals are independent judicial bodies and there is no provision in the Mental Health Act 1983 for review of tribunal decisions by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if mental health review tribunals are advised whether the patient has a history of violence. [11495]

Mr. Burns

Information on whether a patient has a history of violence is provided for mental health review tribunals in the context of the statements by the responsible authority and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State required under the Mental Health Review Tribunal Rules 1983.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require mental health review tribunals to obtain the opinion of a doctor approved under section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in addition to that of the responsible medical officer. [11496]

Mr. Burns

None.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if mental health review tribunals are required to ensure that proper provision and support, in accordance with the care programme approach, has been made before deciding to discharge a patient. [11497]

Mr. Burns

Legislation under the Mental Health Act 1983 provides for mental health review tribunals to receive up-to-date reports on the patient's medical condition and social circumstances. Such reports will include recommendations for continuing care. The tribunal must take account of this information in deciding whether a patient should be discharged, and may direct a patient's discharge on a future date to allow time for aftercare arrangements to be put in place.

Ms Coffey

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what activities he has initiated in preparation for a review of the Mental Health Act 1983. [11498]

Mr. Burns

Officials will, from time to time, as with any other major policy area, meet individuals with a key interest to discuss issues relating to the operation of the Act.