HC Deb 31 March 2004 vol 419 cc1519-21W
Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will require records, audited by his Department to be kept of the use of control and restraint on mental health patients. [163559]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Department does not currently keep any central statistical record of the use of control and restraint. Information about the use of control and restraint is collected in a number of ways. Individual authorities are required to have clear policies on the use of restraint which include provision of a review of each incident of restraint, and its application audited and reported to hospital managers (Chapter 19.14 of the Mental Health Code of Practice).

'Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health Inpatient Settings' was issued by the National Institute for Mental Health in England in February 2004. This guidance makes clear recommendations to services. It states that clinical audit should be an integral part of service culture in order to monitor service responsiveness to the various aspects of patient care.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence will be publishing guidance later this year relating to management of violence.

The National Patient Safety Agency has developed a national reporting and learning system to promote comprehensive national learning about patient safety incidents. This includes reporting of patient safety incidents involving control and restraint. This information will permit feedback to be provided on services and issues to be identified.

From 1 January 2004, the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC), as part of its programme of monitoring vulnerable patient groups, has asked providers of acute mental health services to notify every occasion when a detained patient sustains an injury which requires medical intervention as a consequence of an incident of restraint. Following notification, the MHAC will seek to arrange for a commissioner to visit the patient concerned and, during the visit collect information regarding the handling of the incident using a specifically designed commission visiting questionnaire. Providers also receive a short report of the commissioner's findings with recommendations for action where applicable.

Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to create an ethnically more diverse workforce in mental health services. [163560]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The need for services to be appropriate and responsive to the communities they serve is laid out in the consultation document, `Delivering Race Equality: A Framework for Action' (October 2004). To support this, the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) will be developing work to address the cultural capability of organisations, and staff within them, with a clear focus on improving outcomes for those who use services. The importance of this issue is also highlighted in 'Mental Health Services—Workforce Design and Development: Best Practice Guidance (2003).

Linked to 'Improving Working Lives', we have the national 'Positively Diverse' programme to support employers in working towards creating an ethnically more diverse workforce across the whole National Health Service, including mental health services.

The development of black and minority ethnic staff networks at local (trust) and regional levels has also been actively encouraged with seed funding being provided by the Department. In 2002–03, 120 black and minority ethnic staff networks received seed funding through 'Positively Diverse'. All have agreed to report back on good practices, particularly related to the effect on recruitment and retention of staff from black and minority ethnic heritage. The Positively Diverse programme will also be developed within NIMHE to address these issues within the organisation.

Further work is being considered in the light of the 'Delivering Race Equality' consultation responses and the David Bennett Inquiry recommendations.

Mrs. Helen Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce cultural awareness training for all mental health staff along the lines proposed by the independent inquiry into the death of David Bennett. [163563]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The National Institute of Mental Health in England's (NIMHE) national workforce programme is developing a set of shared capabilities that all staff should possess as part of their education and training. One of these is to respect diversity and to provide care and interventions in ways that respect and value diversity including age, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.

Further work is being considered in the light of the Delivering Race Equality consultation responses and the David Bennett Inquiry recommendations. Very early discussions have taken place between the Sainsbury Centre and the NIMHE to develop work in this area, building on existing good practice.