§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when mental health service improvements announced in the national service framework for mental health and the NHS plan in respect of(a) crisis teams, (b) assertive outreach programmes, (c) home treatment, (d) early intervention in psychosis and (e) primary care mental health teams will be launched in Salisbury. [103080]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 18 March 2003]: A mental health national service framework (NSF) was published in September 1999 which spells out national standards for mental health, what they aim to achieve, how they should be developed and delivered and how to measure performance in every part of the country. It concentrates on the mental health needs of working age adults, and covers health promotion, assessment and diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and care, encompassing primary and secondary care and the roles of partner agencies.
Work to develop mental health services is ongoing. In order to improve local services the local primary care trust has committed, in its three year local delivery plan, to increased investment in mental health, including investment in services for older people and dementia provision.
The Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership National Health Service Trust has advised of specific mental health services in place as follows:
Crisis teams and home treatment:The intensive home support service already provides out-of-hours crisis support in Salisbury and south Wiltshire. Supports run from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm on weekdays and bank holidays and from 10am to 6pm on weekends.Assertive Outreach programmes:
There is a small team currently seeing 14 clients in south Wiltshire, with the aim of increasing this to serve around 40 clients over the next few years. The programme will be considered under a major data led review of adult mental health services to be undertaken during 2003.Across the whole Avon, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority area there have been substantial service improvements in line with NSF Guidance including:
six more crisis resolution teamseight more assertive outreach teamsat least 12 more community gateway staffat least 14 more staff to give breaks to carers and strengthen carer supportfully comprehensive community mental health teams in the three Wiltshire LIT areas965Wbetter services for mentally-disordered offenders including expansion of two court assessment schemes and in-reach provision for prisonersbetter services for mentally-disordered offenders including expansion of two court assessment schemes and in-reach provision for prisonersbetter medium secure services including advocacy and social care services in keeping with the Lewis Reportincreased security High Secure HospitalsThere have also been substantial improvements in the integrated care programme approach, mental health commissioning, and information sharing.