§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a national computerised record of vacant beds in psychiatric wards. [53830]
§ Mr. BoatengNo. What is important is that available resources are used to fund direct patient care. There would be no guarantee that a national computerised record would be sufficient and sufficiently up-to-date to allow for access to vacant beds particularly in an emergency. Admissions are best handled at local level using appropriate contacts and knowledge coupled with effective liaison by professional and managerial staff.