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15 Jan 2008 : Column 1187W—continued

Mental Health Services

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the level of demand for NHS services for dual-diagnosis patients who abuse substances and have a mental illness; what assessment he has made of whether that demand is being met; and what plans he has for future provision of services. [179175]

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has undertaken a substantial programme of work to ensure that the needs of this group are met. The implementation of this has been supported by substantial increases in funding across the NHS over the past 10 years and
15 Jan 2008 : Column 1188W
specific funding increases for substance misuse services through the introduction of the pooled drug treatment budget, which has tripled in size since it was introduced in 2001 (£129 million to £398 million in 2007-08).

Examples of work undertaken to support improvements in this area include:

In the “Mental Health Policy Implementation Guide: Dual Diagnosis Good Practice Guide” (Department of Health, 2002) it was made clear that people who have both drugs misuse and mental health problems need high quality, patient focused and integrated care, which should be delivered within mental health services. It charged local implementation teams in partnership with drug action teams with implementing the policy requirements.

The 2002 Good Practice guide alongside guidance published in 2006, “Dual diagnosis in inpatient and day hospital settings” represents a summary of current Government policy on this issue. The key message is the need for mainstreaming—the recognition that substance misuse is usual rather than exceptional among people with mental health problems, and that the relationship between the two is complex.

The updated “Drug Misuse and dependence - UK guidelines on clinical management” (the ‘clinical guidelines’), published in September 2007 identifies that patients in drug treatment services with common mental illness problems additional to their drug misuse are often treated in drug treatment services, although clarity on competencies and shared care models is important. For all those with mental health problems, it is important that competent practitioners make adequate assessment and appropriate treatment be organised.

Proper assessment is the key to establishing a comprehensive care plan for dual diagnosis. Adequate risk assessment of mental health should be undertaken at initiation of treatment and at appropriate times during management. Specific psychological management in line with appropriate guidance, such as National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and other psychiatric and drug misuse guidelines can then be provided.

MRSA: Greater London

Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of (a) MRSA and (b) clostridium difficile have (i) been reported and (ii) resulted in death, (A) in total, (B) of those under the age of one, (C) of those under the age of five and (D) of those aged over 65 years at each hospital in Greater London in each year since 2000. [178059]

Ann Keen [holding answer 14 January 2008]: The requested data are not available and the best source is the mandatory surveillance system. Surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections (bacteraemia) started in April 2001 and surveillance for Clostridium difficile infection began in January 2004. Data for individual trusts in the London region are shown in the following tables.

Figures on deaths involving MRSA or C. difficile in individual hospitals are not currently available


15 Jan 2008 : Column 1189W

The total of MRSA bacteraemia reported in each trust for all age groups in the London region:


15 Jan 2008 : Column 1190W
MRSA bacteraemia reports
Name of NHS trust April 2001-March 2002 April 2002-March 2003 April 2003-March 2004 April 2004-March 2005 April 2005-March 2006 April 2006-March 2007

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals

92

77

116

98

69

71

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals

62

94

94

102

78

62

Barts and the London

62

74

62

64

67

50

Bromley Hospitals

37

32

18

16

25

27

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

36

32

38

47

28

23

Ealing Hospital

40

38

36

26

39

22

Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals

84

72

88

58

45

62

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

7

13

4

7

6

5

Guy’s and St. Thomas’

124

155

165

102

80

72

Hammersmith Hospitals

89

115

125

81

69

62

Homerton University Hospital

14

19

15

5

20

17

King’s College Hospital

92

108

107

64

99

70

Kingston Hospital

55

59

47

52

57

32

Mayday Healthcare

39

48

56

40

48

43

Moorfields Eye Hospital

0

0

0

0

0

0

Newham University Hospital

25

33

24

17

18

25

North Middlesex University Hospital

46

48

53

29

39

35

North West London Hospitals

59

44

55

54

56

51

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

19

35

32

41

23

22

Queen Mary’s Sidcup

30

32

28

41

23

18

Royal Brompton and Harefield

9

9

5

7

4

4

Royal Free Hampstead

122

101

98

69

93

75

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

2

6

1

5

3

2

St. George’s Healthcare

115

75

93

63

62

85

St. Mary’s

64

72

59

48

67

44

The Hillingdon Hospital

33

36

24

30

24

38

The Lewisham Hospital

54

45

49

60

31

23

The Royal Marsden

6

7

4

1

2

11

The Whittington Hospital

27

30

29

24

35

32

University College London Hospitals

95

114

86

63

68

56

West Middlesex University Hospital

32

41

34

30

27

38

Whipps Cross University Hospital

45

43

37

48

16

29

Note:
Data are provisional

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