Mental Health Wards

HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 cc815-6W

Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available in secure mental health wards in each of the last five years. [93305]

Jacqui Smith

The information requested is shown in the tables. The long-term secure bed numbers are included in these figures, but not separately identified in routine data collection.

Year	Number of high secure beds
1997	1,374
1998	1,366
1999	1,320
2000	1,290
2001	1,263
2002	1,244

	Secure beds
Year	Medium	Other
1997–98	1,493	986
1998–99	1,642	1,032
1999–2000	1,994	1,191
2000–01	2,231	1,353
2001–02	1—	1—
1Figures currently not available.

Jacqui Smith

We do not hold information in the form requested. However, information on the number of prescriptions for dementia drugs dispensed in the community in England is shown in the table.

Note:Bed numbers are calculated from health authority returns of occupied bed days and assuming a 95 per cent. occupancy rate.