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Dr. John Pugh (Southport) (LD): A fundamental point made by the hon. Gentleman was that we cannot expect a national facility such as the one that he described to be funded purely or mostly by local commissioning. Does the Minister agree with that basic point?
Mr. Byrne: In many services, it is inappropriate for local facilities to be funded exclusively by local sources. That is right, but that is why there are national arrangements for some forms of specialised commissioning. My noble Friend Lord Warner is overseeing a review of specialised commissioning, and the Department of Health makes substantial provision in central budgets for moneys that have been identified to support specialised commissioning where appropriate.
Mr. Vaizey: The Minister said that the plans were designed to create modern community child psychiatric facilities. Everyone agrees that the building at the Park is inadequate, but it was always understood that it would be replaced. The phrase, "modern community facilities", does not include the word, "in-patient". Can the Minister be more specific, and say whether the facility will be replaced with in-patient services?
Mr. Byrne:
I regret that I do not have the precise details of the plans that are being developed for the Park hospital. I understand that they are under further consideration so, as soon as I have information on the latest consideration, I am happy to write to the hon. Gentleman.
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In conclusion, I would like to advertise something that is very important to CAMHS—the annual positive practice awards. I was pleased to attend this year's awards in November, and they highlight some of the ways in which CAMHS teams across the country are delivering new and better services. The number and range of entries showed the enormous diversity of initiatives, and I pay tribute to the hard work and vision
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of all the staff who developed and delivered those service improvements. In my correspondence with the hon. Gentleman, I will include information about recipients of this year's awards. If, as I hope, he takes a long and continued interest in the years ahead in child psychiatric services and CAMHS more generally, many of those awards will be of great interest to him.
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