§ Mr. GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to change the guidelines on the use of general wards in hospitals for patients with mental disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [145452]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 15 January 2001]: The Department does not issue guidelines on the use of general wards in hospitals for patients with mental disabilities. In common with any case involving co-morbidity, we would expect local services to develop appropriate liaison services to ensure the patient is treated in the setting which meets his or her priority needs.
A thorough assessment of a patient's risk and attention to their individual care needs should be carried out when first being admitted into hospital; this is particularly important where a patient possibly has dementia or is otherwise confused.