HC Deb 25 February 2002 vol 380 cc1003-4W
Virginia Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve mental health services for young people. [36932]

Jacqui Smith

Our strategy for the 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 agency receiving funding to help support the implementation of jointly agreed local CAMHS developments in accordance with national objectives. We intend to build on these gains through implementation of the CAMHS strand of the

Department of health vacancies survey, March 2001 vacancies in NHS trusts by health authority areas, qualified nurses
Highest three month vacancies Three month vacancy rates (Percentage) Three month vacancy (Number) Staff in post
Bromley HA 10.9 100 800
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 8.8 630 6,590
Bexley and Greenwich HA 8.2 180 2,040
Barking and Havering HA 8.1 130 1,470
Buckinghamshire HA 7.8 230 2,680
North Cheshire HA 7.8 140 2,680
Southampton and South West Hampshire HA 7.6 220 1,690
Kensington. Chelsea and Westminster HA 7.5 330 2,660
East London and The City HA 7.4 360 4,110
Hillingdon HA 6.8 360 3,960
Lowest 3 month vacancies 60 840
Wolverhampton HA 0.3 10 1,450
Sunderland HA 0.4 10 1,700
Southern Derbyshire HA 0.5 10 2,380
Kingston and Richmond HA 0.5 10 1,400
County Durham and Darlington HA 0.5 10 2,620
Suffolk HA 0.6 10 2,450
South Humber HA 0.6 10 1,340
Cornwall and Isle of Scilly HA 0.6 10 2,250
Morcambe Bay HA 0.7 10 1,840
North Yorkshire HA 0.7 20 3,300

Notes:

  1. 1. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).
  2. 2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 workforce censuses (whole time equivalent).
  3. 3. HA Figures are based on Trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.
  4. 4. Staff in post figures quoted cannot be used to calculate the vacancy rates.
  5. 5. Percentages rounded to one decimal place.
  6. 6. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Source: Department of Health Vacancies Survey 2001

Durham; and what percentage were waiting over one year in June 1997. [36907]

Mr. Hutton

The information requested is shown in the table.

planned Children's National Service Framework, on which work has recently started. This is expected to produce new standards and service models and will be one of the main drivers of future developments.

Work is also proceeding on relevant aspects of the NHS plan including improved early intervention services for young people with psychosis and better mental health services for young people in prison.