HC Deb 23 October 2001 vol 373 cc144-8W
Dr. Gibson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which targets in the National Service Framework for Mental Health(a) have been met and (b) are yet to be met. [8177]

Jacqui Smith

The National Framework for Mental Health (NSF) is a 10 year programme to put in place new standards of care. The NSF sets out national standards for mental health, what they aim to achieve, how they should be developed and delivered and how to measure performance in every part of the country. The NHS Plan builds on the NSF by providing extra investment to fast-forward the NSF.

So far the following targets have been achieved:

Secure beds Almost 500 extra secure beds were in place by April 2001

24-hour staffed beds 320 extra 24-hour staffed beds were in place by April 2001

Assertive Outreach Services 170 new teams were established by April 2001.

Over the forthcoming years the following targets will be achieved:

Suicide and undetermined injury Reduce mortality rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010—on target

Primary Care 1,000 new graduate primary care mental health workers employed to help general practitioners to benefit 300,000 people by 2004—on target

Community mental health staff 5,000 more community mental health staff to benefit 500,000 patients (66 per cent. by 2003. 100 per cent. by 2004)—on target

Early Intervention Teams Establish 50 early intervention teams (45 per cent. by 2003,100 per cent. by 2004)—on target

Early and intensive support 7,500 young people who experience a first episode of psychosis receiving early and intense support by 2004—on target

Crisis Resolution Establish 335 crisis resolution teams (23 per cent. by 2003, 100 per cent. by 2004)—on target All people in contact with specialist mental health services able to access crisis resolution services at any time by 2004—on target No out of area admissions which are not clinically indicated by 2004—on target

Assertive Outreach Services Further 50 teams by 2003—on target All who need assertive outreach services to receive them by 2003 (estimated 20,000)

Women's Services Women only day centres in every health authority by 2004—on target

Prison In-reach 5.000 prisoners receiving more comprehensive mental health services in prison by 2004—on target All prisoners with severe mental illness in receipt of treatment by 2004—on target No prisoner with serious mental illness to leave prison without a care plan and a care co-ordinator by 2004—on target

Carers 700 more staff enabling support for 165,000 carers by 2004—on target

Reform of mental health legislation White Paper finalised—on target Reform of Mental Health Act 1983—on target

Personality Disorder 140 additional new secure places for people with severe personality disorder by 2004—on target 75 additional specialist rehabilitation hostel places for people with severe personality disorder by 2004—on target

High secure hospitals Up to 400 patients to move from high secure hospitals to more appropriate accommodation by 2004—on target.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in implementation of the National Service Framework for Mental Health; and if he will make a statement. [9506]

Jacqui Smith

From data collected on the delivery of the National Service Framework and NHS Plan targets we are able to build a picture of progress. This is achieved specifically through mapping of services, a process of self assessment by local implementation teams, financial mapping, analysis of the service and financial framework process and analysis of common information returns on mental health. Assessment of progress and financial mapping will be an annual occurrence.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the extra money for child and adolescent mental health services announced in February 1999 has so far been spent; and where and when. [9527]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: Our strategy for development of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), initiated in 1999–2000, is ongoing with the aim of improving the overall quality and accessibility of local services for children and young people with mental health problems. In the three years ending 31 March 2002 we will have invested some £85 million across the national health service and local authorities, with each authority receiving funding. Health authorities will have been allocated £50 million and local authorities £35 million. The funding to local authorities includes £16 million for the 24 CAMHS innovation projects. These projects are piloting innovative approaches in the provision of mental health services for children and young people.

An additional £10 million was scheduled in 2001–02 for health authorities. However in the Spending Review last year it was decided to place as much funding as possible, including the £10 million, into main health authority allocations. This was in response to concerns from the NHS and will provide the benefit to health authorities of being able to manage the totality of resources available to them. This will allow them to determine for themselves how to implement national priorities, of which CAMHS is one.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many secure mental health beds there were(a) in April 1997, (b) in April 2001 and (c) at the latest available date. [9525]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: In April 1997 there were 2,294 secure mental health beds. In April 2001, which is the latest available date, there were 3,584 secure mental health beds.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in meeting the Public Service Agreement Target of reducing nationally the emergency psychiatric readmission rate; if he will make a statement. [9521]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: The following assessment of progress on the number of emergency psychiatric readmissions of patients aged 16–64 within 90 days of discharge from the care of a psychiatric specialist as a percentage of such discharges is set out in the table.

1998–99 Total 1999–2000 Total 2000–01 Total
Number of re-admissions within 90 days 15,461 14,875 14,068
Total number of discharges 113,585 114,616 110,312
Re-admission rate (percentage) 13.6 13.0 12.8

The table shows progress is being made and that the national milestone as stated in the Mental Health National Service Framework to reduce the rate of psychiatric emergency readmission's by April 2002, from 14.3 per cent. to 12.3 per cent. is on target to be achieved.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of progress in meeting his mental health target to reduce the 1997 death rate from suicide and undetermined injury; and if he will make a statement. [9526]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: The White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" (OHN) sets out a challenging target to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 2010. OHN targets measure suicide rates using three-year pooled rates. The most recent data available are for 1998–2000 and indicate a small rise over the 1995–97 baseline. However, it is too early to assess progress in meeting the target as the most recent three-year pooled data still overlap the start of OHN, which was published in 1999.

We are currently developing, under the direction of the National Director for Mental Health, Professor Louis Appleby, a coherent, national suicide prevention strategy to ensure that we are doing all we can to prevent suicide in pursuit of the "Our Healthier Nation" target.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis received early and intensive support in 2000–01; and if he will make a statement on progress against his target for 2004. [9523]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: Information about the proportion of young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis who received early and intensive support in 2000–01 is not available centrally. The NHS Plan set a target that, by 2004, all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis will receive the early and intensive support they need. Fifty early intervention teams will be established by 2004 to provide this support and it is expected that 7,500 young people will benefit each year. During the current financial year the onus has been on local reviews of services and the establishment of robust plans to meet NHS Plan targets. Implementation of the target for early intervention teams will follow in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Progress on the development of plans is being monitored this autumn through a comprehensive review process.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women-only mental health day centres have been established under the NHS Plan. [9522]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: We have a target to put in place a women-only mental health day centre in every health authority by 2004. A considerable amount of development work is under way to support the delivery of high quality mental health services for women including the production of a national women's mental health strategy. We have as yet no details with regard to services in place although we are measuring progress toward targets with our service and financial mapping.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many early intervention mental health teams have been established. [9524]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 22 October 2001]: The NHS Plan has set a target for 50 early intervention teams to be established by 2004 in order to provide treatment and active support in the community to young people who develop psychosis, such as schizophrenia. Child and adolescent mental health services will be participating with adult services in developing the new teams. This will help to reduce the problems that can occur at the interface between the services.

During the current financial year the onus has been on local reviews of services and the establishment of robust plans to meet NHS Plan targets. Implementation of the target for early intervention teams will follow in 2002–03 and 2003–04. Progress on the development of plans is being monitored this autumn through a comprehensive review process.