§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times were for(a) children and (b) adults suffering from mental health problems to receive treatment in each year since 1997. [82701]
§ Jacqui SmithThe estimated mean waiting times for first outpatient appointments following general practitioner referrals to child and adolescent psychiatry and other mental health specialties, between 1996–97 and 2001–02, are shown in the table. At end March 1997 there were 600 and 1,370 patients waiting over 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment for child and adolescent psychiatry and other mental health specialties respectively. The equivalent figures for March 2002 were 13 and 52.
671W
Mean waiting time1 (in weeks) for first outpatient appointment. Child andadolescent psychiatry Other MH specialities2 1996 to 1997 10.4 6.3 1997 to 1998 10.1 6.1 1998 to 1999 10.6 6.0 1999 to 2000 10.0 6.1 2001 to 2002 10.3 6.1 2001/2 10.8 6.6 1The means should be interpreted with caution because they are estimated from the total number of patients seen within 4,9,13, and 26 week timebands
2Other MH specialties includes the following: mental illness, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy, and old age psychiatry.
Source:
Department of Health form QM08