Oral Answers to Questions

Jeremy Lefroy Excerpts

Tuesday 25th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Norman Lamb]

The review being undertaken by NHS England will report in March. I agree that that situation is intolerable, but I have made it very clear on many occasions that there is an institutional bias against mental health in the NHS. Interestingly, the Health Committee report on deficits in 2006-07 specifically made the point that mental health was particularly targeted, so that always happens when NHS finances are tight. However, it cannot happen, because there has to be parity of esteem, including in the way in which money is distributed in the NHS.

[Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford) (Con)]

In Stafford hospital, many young people with mental health problems are extremely well treated in normal in-patient wards. That should not be the case, but no other facility is available. What will happen if those in-patient beds are no longer there?

[Norman Lamb]

As far as possible, we should be trying to ensure that children with mental health crises can remain at home; it does not make sense, in very many cases, to put them into in-patient care. However, we have made it clear, as has NHS England and as was confirmed in the crisis care concordat last week, that beds should be locally available whenever they are needed.