§ Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of(a) the Audit Commission's comparison between Leeds and other major cities in respect of expenditure per head on mental health services and (b) the recent net closure of eight acute 564W psychiatric beds in Leeds prior to the reprovision of community alternatives; and why there was not formal public consultation over the closure. [59763]
§ Mr. HuttonDecisions about mental health care and the use of the increased resources made available by this Government are best taken at local level, because it is at local level that people's needs are best known and where services can be tailored to them. It is the responsibility of Leeds Health Authority to assess the health care needs of their population, to draw up strategies and commissioning plans in collaboration with local people, general practitioners and other organisations, and to secure a range of hospital and community health services to meet those needs.
The Leeds Community and Mental Health Trust is currently developing a modernisation programme that includes a range of capital developments to reprovide mental health services in Leeds. The introduction of these schemes will allow the closure of the existing facilities which are outdated and in much need of replacement. The health authority has discussed its plans with the community health council.