To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were seen by (a) acute and (b) community mental health services in each health authority in each of the last five years. [17385]

Information in the form requested is not available centrally. Between June and September 1997, approximately 640,000 people were receiving care from specialist mental health services but there is no breakdown centrally of the type of care provided to these patients. Data are available on specific services but these will involve an element of double counting since some patients will have received more than one service or, in the case of hospital in-patient episodes, have had more than one episode in hospital. The table shows figures for England for the last five years for numbers of in-patient finished consultant episodes, first attendances in the year at out-patient clinics, first contacts in the year with community psychiatric nurses and first attendances in the year at National Health Service day centres. These figures are published for hospital trusts in the following publications:

• Ordinary and day cases admissions, England, Financial year 1996–97
• Out-patient and ward attenders, England, Financial year 1996–97
• NHS day care facilities, England, Financial year 1996–97
• Patient care in the community, community psychiatric nursing, summary information for 1995–96, England.