The following tables illustrate the requirement and trained strength figures of uniformed regular psychiatrists and mental health nurses in each service for each year since 1998, all of whom were or are uniformed. Further to the statement on 9 February 2006, Official Report, column 1402W, and as explained to the hon. Member in a follow-up letter, the figures for 1997 are unavailable.
In the following tables the figures are for 1 April in that year.
As stated on 29 January 2007, Official Report, column 25W, the DMS uniformed regular requirement figures have been reviewed and the new manning requirements for 2007 for all cadres will be formally announced in the near future.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Requirement 3 n/a 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Manning 1 n/a 1 1 1 2 1 1 2
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Requirement n/a n/a 22 22 22 22 22 22 22 Manning 10 n/a 13 10 10 18 29 24 21
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Requirement 11 n/a 25 25 25 17 15 17 15 Manning 8 n/a 8 6 6 6 5 7 6
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Requirement n/a n/a 76 76 76 50 48 61 53 Manning 42 n/a 36 38 41 39 42 43 43
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Requirement 4 n/a 7 8 8 8 9 9 9 Manning 4 n/a 5 4 3 3 4 4 5
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Requirement n/a n/a 30 27 27 38 38 38 38 Manning 24 n/a 26 31 29 30 31 33 33 n/a = Indicates that it was not possible to determine the figure from the recovered archived files. Source: DMSD
Mental health occupational therapists are now not employed by the MOD. Our current community-based mental health provision is occupationally orientated and aims to manage patients in their work/home environment. This is done by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of psychiatrists, mental health nurses with access to both clinical psychologists and mental health social workers. The employment of specific occupational therapists is no longer necessary.
The MOD employed mental health occupational therapists up until 2003 at the Duchess of Kent Psychiatric Hospital. The mental health occupational therapists that were employed were civilian. The records for the numbers of mental health occupational therapists could not be recovered without disproportionate effort.
The MOD also employs civilian clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health nurses.