HC Deb 10 December 2002 vol 396 cc299-301W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with mental health problems detained due to a risk of suicide had a face to face assessment by a mental health professional within seven days of discharge from a hospital in the last year for which figures are available. [85636]

Jacqui Smith

The information is not available in the requested format. However, preliminary data relating to the target set for patients with severe mental illness and/ or deliberate self harm shows an encouragingly high rate of follow up by face to face contact with a mental health professional. Further work is being done to ensure that our strategy to prevent suicide is fully implemented.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of mental health services following the introduction of the Mental Health Act 1999. [86142]

Jacqui Smith

Partnership arrangements under the Health Act 1999 have been available to National Health Service bodies and local government since April 2000. Since then, the Department has been notified of 44 partnerships involving mental health services. In addition, three of the first five care trusts were formed from mental health service providers.

The use of the Health Act 1999 is also being monitored through the annual local implementation plan process and in 2002 information has been collected on joint planning and the use of the flexibilities. Just under 90 per cent. of all local implementation teams reported that they were involved in joint planning and half were making other use of the flexibilities.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what performance targets his Department sets for monitoring mental health services to deaf people. [86146]

Jacqui Smith

The Department has just concluded a wide consultation of mental health services for deaf people. Together with an expert group, it is considering the large number of responses received and will publish conclusions in the New Year. The arrangements for monitoring performance will be considered as part of this.

Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the length of time spent by GPs on mental health training; [86155]

(2) what proportion of (a) GPs and (b) practice nurses have received formal mental health training. [86157]

Mr. Hutton

Information about the proportion of general practitioners (GPs) who have received formal mental health training is not collected centrally. However, all doctors are expected to have an understanding of the psychological factors that affect patients and have the knowledge and skills of assessment of the mental state of patients.

The content of the general practice training curriculum is the responsibility of the joint committee on postgraduate training for general practice (JCPTGP), which is the competent authority for general practice training in the United Kingdom. The JCPTGP is an independent professional body, and it is required by section 9(3) of the Vocational Training Regulations 1997 to determine and publish the curriculum to be followed by a GP registrar (ie, a trainee GP). While not all GP registrars are required to spend a period of training in psychiatry, those who do may spend not less than six months or more than 12 months training in the specialty.

The Regulations mentioned above specify seven competencies which must be tested, and which the curriculum must therefore teach: factual medical knowledge sufficient to enable the doctor to perform the duties of a GP; the ability to apply factual medical knowledge to the management of problems presented by patients in general practice: effective communication, both orally and in writing; the ability to consult satisfactorily with general practice patients; the ability to review and critically analyze the practitioner's own working practices and to manage any necessary changes appropriately; clinical skills; and the ability to synthesize all of the above competencies and apply them appropriately in a general practice setting. Therefore, GPs are expected to learn in training, the skills needed to deal with all their patients. As mental health issues are relatively common. GP registrars would be often exposed, while training, to the assessment, management and monitoring of patients with mental health problems.

The General Medical Council's education committee has the general function of promoting high standards of medical education and co-ordinating all stages of medical education to ensure that students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice. As pre-registration house officers, all doctors, including those who will eventually become GPs, are expected to have training in the psychological and social factors that affect patients. As senior house officers, all doctors are expected to develop medical knowledge and skills of assessment of the mental state of patients.

With regard to practice nurses, information about the proportion who have received formal mental health training is not collected centrally. Workforce development confederations are in the best position to understand local educational needs. Therefore, they work with National Health Service trusts, which are responsible for making decisions in which they balance development of existing staff and investment in training.