Community Psychiatric Nurses Dr. Hendron To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria is used by the Department of Health to fund the activities of community psychiatric nurses. [37566] Mr. Moss The Department of Health and Social Services does not provide funding for health and personal social services on the basis of specific service needs. It is a matter for the health and social services boards, as commissioners, to determine the specific service needs of their resident populations in the light of available resources.The Department allocates the resources available annually to boards by means of a capitation formula which is employed to facilitate equitable distribution of funds on the basis of the overall needs for health and social care of each board's resident population. Dr. Hendron To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of people who have been referred to a community psychiatric nurse in the south and east Belfast area. [37557] Mr. Moss Information is not available in the format requested. However, during the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 there were 24,031 face-to-face contacts with community psychiatric nurses in the south and east Belfast HSS trust. Dr. Hendron To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of people who have been referred to community psychiatric nurses throughout west and north Belfast in each of the last five years. [37553] Mr. Moss Information is not available in the format requested. However, the number of face-to-face contacts with community psychiatric nurses in the north and west Belfast HSS trust in each of the last three years is: 1992–93: 20,9081993–94: 21,3391994–95: 20,400Information is not available centrally prior to 1992–93. Dr. Hendron To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the total number of people who have been referred to a community psychiatric nurse in the Eastern health board area; [37559](2) what is the total number of people who have been referred to a community psychiatric nurse in the Southern health board area; [37561](3) what is the total number of people who have been referred to a community psychiatric nurse in the Western health board area; [37560](4) what is the total number of people who have been referred to a community psychiatric nurse in the Northern health board area. [37562] Mr. Moss Information is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the number of face-to-face contacts with community psychiatric nurses in each health and social services board area during the period 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995. ---------------------------------- |Health and social services board| ---------------------------------- |Eastern | ---------------------------------- |Northern | ---------------------------------- |Southern | ---------------------------------- |Western | ----------------------------------