Secure Mental Health Units

HC Deb 23 February 1998 vol 307 cc84-5W

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on guidelines for security in secure mental health units. [29539]

Mr. Boateng

National Health Service Estates has produced a design guide for medium secure psychiatric units which provides general information for security in such units.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many escapes there were from secure mental health units in 1997. [29538]

Mr. Boateng

Information about escapes is not collected centrally as a matter of routine. It is for the commissioning authorities to monitor the security arrangements of medium secure units.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in respect of the Arnold Lodge secure mental health unit in Leicester since April 1997. [29542]

Mr. Boateng

The only representations received were from my hon. Friend.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to increase security at secure mental health units. [29540]

Mr. Boateng

It is an operational matter for individual trusts to satisfy themselves that adequate security measures exist relating to their own circumstances. Security at secure mental health units is achieved by a combination of staff operational procedures including risk assessment, physical design of the buildings and, where appropriate, fences together with locking and electronic security systems.