§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact he expects the budget announcement on health and social services spending to have on waiting time for disability facilities grants. [53315]
§ Jacqui SmithThe extra cash will help to bring on line the extra capacity that the National Health Service needs to make care better and faster for patients. We would not expect a direct impact on disabled facilities grants because these are mandatory grants provided by housing departments with part funding by the Department for Transport, Local Government, and the Regions.
§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 2 May 2002,Official Report, column 994W, on disability facilities, if the provision of walk-in showers is included in the national project; and if he will make a statement. [58351]
§ Jacqui SmithThe provision of walk-in showers requires building work of a permanent and substantial nature, and these are usually arranged by councils' housing departments. Such major adaptations are often
680W
Average daily number of available and occupied beds in Acute Mental Illness-wards, for NHS Trusts in Newcastle & North Tyneside Health Authority area, 2000–01 and 1996–97 2000–01 Available beds Occupied beds % occupancy Newcastle City Health NHS Trust Mental Illness—Children—short stay 19 11 60.9 Mental Illness—Elderly—short stay 62 50 80.1 Mental Illness—Secure unit—other ages 37 32 87.8 Mental Illness—other ages—short stay 169 162 95.6 Total Acute Mental Illness beds for NHS Trusts in Newcastle & North Tyneside Health Authority area, 2000–01 287 255 89.0 facilitated through disabled facilities grants. They are usually beyond the scope of equipment services, and so housing departments are outside the remit of the project to integrate community equipment services. When statutory services decide what to provide, the guiding principle should be to meet individually assessed needs.