HC Deb 06 March 2002 vol 381 cc430-1W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in reviewing methods of recording calls to NHS Direct about mental health-related matters so as to align them closely with the clinical assessment system. [35509]

Ms Blears

[holding answer 12 February 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

All calls to NHS Direct are logged and recorded; this includes mental health calls. Nurse advisers use decision support systems (algorithms) as part of the national health service clinical assessment system (CAS) to enable them to identify the nature of the call and assess the needs of the caller. Mental health is seen as an integral part of the CAS and mental health callers will be assessed and advised using the CAS through the use of mental health algorithms developed by mental health clinicians. As CAS is available across England, the information available on all calls will become even more robust and will provide a credible data source supporting mental health service development.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, column 679W, what the timetable is for selection and implementation of instrumentation for the measurement of clinical outcomes in the mental health services. [39845]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 1 March 2002]: The selection and implementation of instrumentation for the measurement of clinical outcomes in mental health services is developing as planned.

The instruments to be used were selected in January 2002. They will consider aspects of morbidity, patient satisfaction and quality of life. Piloting the instruments is currently in hand. Data are expected to be flowing from the pilot sites by September 2002. Routine measurement of outcomes is expected from April 2003.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people, broken down by age, were(a) admitted and (b) discharged from hospital in each of the last five years where the main diagnosis was mental illness. [40577]

Jacqui Smith

[holding answer 5 March 2002]: The tables show the estimated numbers of Finished Consultant Episodes and Discharges with a primary diagnosis of

Finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99), England, 1996–97 to 2000–01
1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Under 16 20,210 25,150 20,010 18,170 14,580
16–24 33,880 36,540 31,500 27,870 22,220
25–44 103,540 109,640 106,350 98,890 79,560
45–64 54,390 56,190 56,010 54,550 45,850
65–74 26,090 25,520 24,700 23,720 18,840
75–84 32,310 32,920 33,300 31,560 24,210
85+ 18,460 19,180 17,820 17,510 15,060
Not known 2,400 470 730 250 420
All ages 291,280 305,610 290,420 272,520 220,740
Psychiatric diagnosis as a percentage of all diagnoses 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.3 1.9

Notes:

1. Data for 2001–01 have not been grossed for coverage and have a provisional status.

2. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

3. Codes have been taken from the 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems' Tenth Revision (1CD-10).

Discharges with a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99), England, 1996–97 to 2000–01
1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01
Under 16 20,000 24,950 19,620 18,050 14,270
16–24 32,170 35,130 29,940 25,970 20,400
25–44 97,330 104,070 100,000 90,360 72,230
45–64 50,550 52,780 51,990 49,480 40,970
65–74 24,000 23,670 22,740 21,190 16,630
75–84 29,330 30,310 30,250 27,800 20,940
85+ 16,660 17,540 16,010 15,230 12,740
Not known 2,350 450 690 230 410
All ages 272,390 288,890 271,230 248,300 198,580
Psychiatric diagnosis as a percentage of all diagnoses 2.7 2.8 2.5 2.2 1.9

Notes:

1. Data for 2001–01 have not been grossed for coverage and have a provisional status.

2. Figures may not add up due to rounding.

3. Codes have been taken from the 'International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems1 Tenth Revision (ICD–10).

Mr. Woodward

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring of compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 in psychiatric units his Department has undertaken in the last three years; and what resources have been made available for this. [38367]

Jacqui Smith

The Mental Health Act Commission's role is to routinely visit all hospitals and registered nursing homes with detained patients to monitor the operation of the Mental Health Act and interview detained patients in private. It is also their role to monitor complaints made by detained patients through the NHS complaints procedures and monitor the operation of the consent to treatment safeguards and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice. New legislation following the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 will fully comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.