To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts on the treatment of mentally ill patients who attend accident and emergency departments in hospitals; and if he will make a statement. (275429)

On 30 April 2004, a new checklist, “Improving the management of patients with mental ill health in emergency care settings”, was published by the Department. A copy has been placed in the Library. The checklist is for accident and emergency staff to help them with their patients with mental health problems. The checklist outlines areas for action and includes examples of the ways in which some services are addressing some of these challenges.