Mental Health (Hansard, 14 July 2003)

§ Mr. Hurst
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to improve the treatment of those suffering from acute personality disorders. [124877]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
The Government are committed to improving the care, treatment and management of people with personality disorder. One component of the work is the provision of appropriate assessment and treatment services for the small number of people with severe personality disorder (probably less than 2,500 nationally) who pose a continued risk to others. New facilities, in both prisons and secure psychiatric hospitals, will evaluate what the most effective methods of treatment are and consider how people can be helped back into society. This is known as the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) Programme.
In addition, "Personality disorder: no longer a diagnosis of exclusion"—policy implementation guidance for the development of services for people with personality disorder—was published by National Institute for Mental Health in England in January 2003. This guidance builds on standards four and five in the national service framework for mental health and sets out how services for people with personality disorder should be developed. It brings this often neglected and isolated area of mental health into focus for the first time.

§ Mr. Paul Marsden
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the separation of mental health patients with differing degrees of mental illness. [125094]

§ Ms Rosie Winterton
Clinical assessment of need is the key to effective ward organisation. "Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide on Adult Acute Inpatient Care Provision" (2002) and "Safety, Privacy and Dignity in Mental Health Units" (2000) provides the principles of achieving such effective organisation in detail.
The guides state that the focus should be on admission to the most appropriate setting in line with the patient's needs within a whole system approach. It also reiterates the need to have cleir admission and bed management protocols in place, as well as the necessary clinical governance arrangements to monitor and address concerns in respect of unmet needs.