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Medical Accidents
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been lost, and with what value of damages and costs, by regional health authorities in England as a result of medical accidents in each year since 1980.
Mr. Freeman : This information is not held centrally. Health authorities are required to notify the Department of all compensation payments in excess of £100,000 made as a result of court orders or out of court settlements.
The following awards/settlements resulting from medical accidents by National Health Service region were notified in each of the financial years 1980-81 to 1988-89.
Year and region |Amount of
|award/settlement
|£
----------------------------------------------------
1980-81
North East Thames |240,000
Oxford |160,000
1981-82 |-
1982-83
North East Thames |195,000
1983-84
South West Thames |250,000
Wessex |534,000
Mersey |160,000
1984-85
North West Thames |220,760
North East Thames |235,000
1985-86
Yorkshire |385,000
Trent |270,000
Wessex |275,000
West Midlands |250,000
1986-87
Trent |115,000
|130,000
|375,000
East Anglian |151,222
|600,000
South West Thames |150,498
Wessex |175,000
Oxford |550,000
West Midlands |175,000
|260,000
North Western |207,000
1987-88
North East Thames |430,000
South Western |350,000
Mersey |375,000
1988-89
Trent |625,000
North East Thames |<1>535,000
|380,000
|546,000
|220,000
South East Thames |<1>225,000
Oxford |465,000
South Western |290,000
Mersey |375,000
|140,000
<1> Provisional figures.
Note. The figures shown represent the total amount
of the award/settlement excluding costs which are
not generally known at the time of the settlement
and, therefore, are not notified to the Department.
The figures do not take account of the fact that
the health authority's liability may have been
reduced by a contribution from a medical defence
organisation.
Cardiac Staff
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the number of (a) cardiologists and (b) cardiac technicians in each regional health authority, expressed as an absolute figure, and per 100,000 population of the regional health authority for the latest available year.
Mr. Mellor : The information is shown in the table.
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NHS staff<1> in post at 30 September 1987
RegionHospital Physiological
consultants-cardiology measurement
technicians-cardiology
|whole-time<2> equivalent|WTE per 100,000 |whole-time<2> equivalent|WTE per 100,000
|population<3> |population<3>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |8 |0.3 |49 |1.6
Yorkshire |7 |0.2 |80 |2.2
Trent |6 |0.1 |137 |2.9
East Anglia |3 |0.1 |23 |1.1
North West Thames |8 |0.2 |60 |1.7
North East Thames |7 |0.2 |59 |1.6
South East Thames |11 |0.3 |26 |0.7
South West Thames |6 |0.2 |37 |1.2
Wessex |5 |0.2 |24 |0.8
Oxford |6 |0.2 |14 |0.6
South Western |1 |0.0 |40 |1.2
West Midlands |9 |0.2 |102 |2.0
Mersey |8 |0.3 |86 |3.6
North Western |12 |0.3 |111 |2.8
|-- |-- |-- |--
England total<4> |116 |0.2 |876 |1.8
Source:
Department of Health (SMI3) annual censuses of NHS medical and non-medical manpower and the Office of Population Censuses and Survery.
<1> Includes permanent paid and honorary staff, including locums and agency locum staff.
<2> Figures rounded to the nearest whole-time equivalent but unrounded figures used for calculations.
<3> Based on mid-1987 population estimates.
<4> England totals include staff employed in London post graduate special health authorities.
Electrocardiograms
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the number of (a) electrocardiograms, (b) exercise electrocardiograms, (c) echocardiograms and (d) ambulatory recordings per 100,000 population carried out (i) in England and (ii) in each regional health authority area for the latest available year.
Mr. Freeman : The available information is given in the table.
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Electrocardiogram requests, NHS hospitals, per 100,000 population,
England, 1987-88
|Group A<1> |Group B<1>
|Routine |Ambulary and Exercise
|Electrocardiograms (per|ECG's (per 100,000
|100,000 population<2>) |population<2>)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England<3> |6,384 |695
Northern |7,012 |523
Yorkshire |7,748 |837
Trent |6,671 |330
East Anglian |5,819 |575
North West Thames |5,900 |659
North East Thames |7,783 |1,031
South East Thames |5,488 |911
South West Thames |4,005 |475
Wessex |4,139 |672
Oxford |4,489 |432
South Western |5,177 |476
West Midlands |6,004 |528
Mersey |7,960 |966
North Western |7,942 |972
<1>Source: KH13.
<2>OPCS 1987 mid-year population estimates.
<3>England figure includes Special Health Authority.
Medical Scientific Officers
Mr. Churchill : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Davyhulme of 4 July, what has been the percentage increase in average earnings from April 1980 to 1988 in respect of medical scientific officers.
Mr. Mellor : We do not hold this information centrally. Pay rates for NHS scientists and clinical psychologists have increased by an average of 113 per cent. between April 1980 and April 1988.
Residential Care
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will define the circumstances in which local authorities and health authorities meet the full cost of the care of an individual placed in private or voluntary residential care ; and whether these circumstances apply equally when the claimant is over pensionable age ;
(2) what access to residential care an individual enjoys if the statutory services are unwilling or unable to make provision.
Mr. Mellor : Statutory responsibility for the provision of residential care rests with local authorities. Under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948 and directions issued by the Secretary of State, local authorities have a duty to make arrangements for providing residential accommodation for persons ordinarily resident in their area who, by reason of age, infirmity or other circumstances are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them. Local authorities may themselves provide such accommodation. Alternatively they may under section 26 of that Act, sponsor residents in voluntary or private residential care homes, in which case the local authority pays the full fees and the resident pays the authority in accordance with his or her means.
Cook-chill Food
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ensure that all National Health Service hospital in-patients are able to obtain a cooked alternative to cook-chill food if they request it ;
(2) what advice his Department has given to health authorities concerning the feeding of individual patients in hospitals providing only cook-chill meals where the patients concerned refuse to eat food produced by this method.
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Mr. Freeman : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on Tuesday 17 January at columns 113-14 .
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has received regarding the Yorkshire regional health authority's proposals to adopt the use of four central production units within the private sector for the purpose of the introduction of the cook- chill catering throughout the Yorkshire region ; (2) what is the position of the current in-house cook-chill production units following the decision of the Yorkshire regional health authority to privatise hospital catering provision ; (3) what recent consultation has taken place between the Yorkshire regional health authority and (a) the district health authorities, (b) the community health councils and (c) trade unions, concerning their future plans for hospital catering within the region.
Mr. Freeman : The Yorkshire regional health authority consulted widely on its catering strategy and continues to do so when appropriate. Questions about its implementation are a local matter and not for me. The hon. Member may wish to contact the regional chairman for the particular information he is seeking.
Irradiated Food
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued concerning the introduction of irradiated food into National Health Service catering ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : The Government's announcement of their intention to permit food irradiation was made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 21 June. New enabling powers are required to impose conditions and controls necessary for its introduction. It follows that any advice to the NHS must await the application of those new powers when available.
Infant Mortality
Mr. Fearn : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he intends to introduce to improve Britain's standing in the infant mortality league of the European Economic Community nations.
Mr. Mellor : I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 18 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) at columns 138-39 announcing the Government's response to the first report from the Social Services Select Committee, Session 1988-89 on perinatal, neonatal and infant mortality.
Private Ambulances
Mr. Higgins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations exist to ensure that private ambulances are roadworthy and safe to operate as ambulances ; what regulations exist to require those operating private ambulances to be qualified to deal with sick or injured people ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Freeman : There is no statutory control over private ambulances or private ambulance operators who are free to operate subject to the provisions of common law and traffic legislation. The onus is on those buying private ambulance services to ensure that they are able to provide the appropriate facilities and staff to meet the standards required.
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Anthony Porter
Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the question from the hon. Member for Stockton, South relating to the death of Anthony Porter after receiving treatment at North Tees hospital, originally tabled for answer on 7 July.
Mr. Freeman : I replied to my hon. Friend's letter on 19 July.
Official Hospitality
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department in 1988-89.
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Mr. Freeman : I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security gave today.
Advertising
Mr. Grocott : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide as much information as possible which does not breach commercial confidentiality about his Department's expenditure on commercial television advertising for each of the past five years.
Mr. Mellor [holding answer 15 May 1989] : The figures are as follows :
|Campaign |1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drugs |Nil |700,281 |707,319 |Nil |400,137
AIDS |Nil |Nil |948,605 |1,631,598|Nil
Anti-teenage smoking |Nil |266,975 |261,918 |Nil |Nil
Nursing |Nil |Nil |Nil |Nil |319,412
Health education campaigns are conducted by the Health Education Authority which now has responsibility for AIDS and anti-teenage smoking campaigns, amongst others.
Radiation
Mr. Kirkwood : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if, pursuant to his answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 472-3, to the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Wardell), he will publish the general comments made in the last five years about the facilities available to clinicians administering radioactive substances referred to him by Her Majesty's inspector of pollution ; and if he will list those clinics, hospitals and health authorities where his Department has pursued its concerns with the health authority.
Mr. Freeman [holding answer 19 July 1989] : I regret that this information could not be supplied except at disproportionate cost.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Vaccine Damage (Compensation)
Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much compensation is paid to brain-damaged victims following vaccinations who are deemed to be 75 per cent. disabled.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : No payments under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979 are made for disablement assessed at less than 80 per cent. However, anyone who believes they are disabled as a result of vaccination may seek compensation through the courts.
Income Support
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people claim the lowest level of income support in each of its three categories.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The latest estimate is that some 610,000 single people and 15,000 couples draw income support at the basic personal allowance rates only.
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Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have no other source of income other than income support.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The latest estimate is that some 725,000 single people and 43,000 couples drawing income support have no other source of income, (including other social security benefits).
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what tests his Department carries out to see if it is possible for income support claimants to survive on the various levels of support where no other income is received.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Information is available from a variety of sources, including the "Annual Statistical Enquiry", the "Family Expenditure Survey", the "General Household Survey", individual research studies carried out over a period of time, and representations from outside organisations. It is also relevant that the real value of the benefit has increased very substantially over the period since 1948.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has any proposals to increase any of the three grades of income support.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The personal allowance for certain 16 to 17-year- olds who, of necessity, have to live away from home was increased from 10 July, and there will be increases this October in the premiums for pensioners over 75, and for disabled pensioners. Further increases in the income support rates will be considered later this year as part of the annual uprating.
Dr. Goodson-Wickes : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to increase the level of income support for people in nursing homes and residential care.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The maximum amounts payable under income support to people in independent residential care and nursing homes are reviewed annually at the same time as the general uprating of social security benefits.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what action is taken by his Department when
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the nearest relatives of an income support claimant over pension age in residential or nursing care refuse requests to top up the claimant's fees for care where the claimant's total income does not meet the full cost of care ;(2) which agency is responsible for meeting the difference between the fees for private residential and nursing care and the total income of an income support claimant over pensionable age when his or her resources fall short of the costs of residence.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 4 July at column 140 . Local authorities can only meet the full cost of care for people over pension age, they cannot "top-up" income support. The funding arrangements for new residents of homes are of course to change following the announcement on the funding of community care made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health on 12 July at columns 975-79 .
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy regarding the payment of income support for longer than six months to a claimant in private residential or nursing home care when the claimant's house is for sale but has not been sold, and where the claimant has no resources to meet the costs of the home.
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Mr. Peter Lloyd : Income support can continue to be paid after 26 weeks, provided that the adjudication officer is satisfied that all reasonable steps to sell the property are being taken.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his policy regarding the realisation of the sale of the former home of an applicant for income support in private residential care where such a sale would render the resident's previous carer homeless, and where the carer is neither the partner of the claimant nor a relative over the age of 60 years, nor is incapacitated.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 4 July at columns 139-40.
Grants and Loans
Ms. Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number and percentage of (a) budgeting loans and (b) community care grants awarded to the 15 client groups defined by his Department for (i) Great Britain, (ii) the Northern Department of Social Security region and (iii) each of the Department of Social Security local offices of Redcar, Eston, Middlesbrough, Stockton and Hartlepool for the financial year 1988-89.
Mr. Peter Lloyd [holding answer 10 July, 1989] : The information requested is set out in the table.
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Budgeting loans and community care grants nationally, regional and for local offices by client group 1988-89
Per cent.
|(00) |(01) |(02) |(03) |(04) |(05) |(06) |(07) |(08) |(09) |(10) |(11) |(12) |(13) |(14) |(15)<1> |Total awards
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Britain
Budgeting Loans |0.5 |0.3 |0.6 |3.9 |0.4 |3.6 |3.6 |43.9 |0.7 |2.1 |16.7 |18.8 |1.0 |3.8 |0.0 |n.a. |504,629
Community Care Grants |0.4 |4.5 |3.7 |14.3 |0.9 |3.4 |10.0 |25.2 |0.7 |1.5 |9.5 |16.4 |2.0 |6.3 |0.0 |1.1 |152,574
North East Region
Budgeting Loans |0.3 |0.3 |0.7 |4.1 |0.4 |2.7 |3.0 |42.8 |0.8 |2.2 |20.9 |17.6 |0.9 |3.3 |0.0 |n.a. |101,558
Community Care Grants |0.4 |3.7 |3.7 |14.5 |1.0 |3.2 |9.3 |26.2 |0.7 |1.3 |11.7 |16.3 |1.8 |5.9 |0.0 |0.8 |278,824
Eston ILO
Budgeting Loans |0.0 |0.2 |0.8 |2.0 |0.3 |3.1 |4.1 |52.0 |0.3 |1.1 |25.6 |7.5 |0.6 |2.5 |0.0 |n.a. |1,316
Community Care Grants |0.3 |1.3 |2.3 |5.8 |0.0 |2.3 |5.8 |28.2 |0.6 |3.2 |30.2 |14.0 |0.6 |4.9 |0.0 |0.3 |319
Hartlepool ILO
Budgeting Loans |0.6 |0.3 |0.7 |3.1 |0.6 |2.5 |3.4 |40.3 |0.3 |2.4 |26.8 |15.4 |1.4 |2.3 |0.0 |n.a. |1,662
Community Care Grants |1.3 |3.0 |1.7 |8.3 |0.3 |3.0 |6.0 |30.3 |0.3 |1.3 |18.3 |18.0 |0.3 |4.3 |0.0 |2.7 |321
Middlesbrough ILO
Budgeting Loans |0.2 |0.5 |0.8 |3.6 |0.6 |2.5 |3.3 |45.9 |0.6 |2.1 |24.2 |12.8 |0.6 |2.2 |0.0 |n.a. |4,023
Community Care Grants |0.0 |3.6 |4.1 |12.0 |1.3 |3.7 |8.0 |32.1 |0.4 |1.2 |9.4 |16.4 |1.4 |5.2 |0.0 |1.2 |951
Redcar ILO
Budgeting Loans |0.1 |0.0 |0.5 |4.1 |0.9 |12.0 |2.3 |37.0 |0.9 |1.5 |20.6 |16.6 |0.7 |2.9 |0.0 |n.a. |1,369
Community Care Grants |0.0 |3.0 |3.6 |14.3 |2.4 |9.6 |7.5 |22.4 |2.4 |0.9 |10.3 |14.3 |1.9 |6.6 |0.0 |0.9 |503
Stockton ILO
Budgeting Loans |0.3 |0.3 |1.1 |4.3 |0.6 |2.5 |3.5 |44.0 |0.6 |2.1 |22.3 |15.1 |0.9 |2.5 |0.0 |n.a. |2,720
Community Care Grants |0.3 |3.2 |4.0 |11.2 |0.9 |3.6 |6.4 |36.5 |0.3 |1.4 |11.9 |13.9 |1.1 |4.2 |0.0 |1.3 |799
<1> Key to client groups
Code Meaning
00 unallocated or unidentified
01 over 80-with Income Support higher pensioner premium
02 aged 60-79-disabled with higher pensioner premium
03 aged 60-79-with ordinary pensioner premium, or over 60 without pensioner premium
04 lone parent with Income Support disability premium
05 family with disability premium
06 other with disability premium
07 lone parent without disability premium
08 signs at UBO quarterly with Income Support family premium
09 signs at UBO quarterly without family premium
10 signing unemployed or with training allowance with family premium
11 signing unemployed or with training allowance without family premium
12 others with family premium
13 others without family premium
14 involved in trade dispute
15 applicant not in receipt of Income Support-not applicable for budgeting loans
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Benefits
Mr. Battle : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for the delay experienced by Mr. and Mrs. Elliot, of the Rodney road centre, Leeds, in hearing the outcome of their claim for family credit ; what are the grounds for the refusal of (i) family credit and (ii) income support in that case ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Mrs. Elliot was notified on 3 November 1988 that her claim for family credit made on 22 September 1988 had been disallowed on the ground that neither she nor her husband were normally engaged in remunerative work within the terms of section 20(5)(b) of the Social Security Act 1986 and regulation 5(2) of the Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987. The delay was caused by the need to make inquiries of Mr. Elliot's employers to establish details of his employment. Mr. Elliot's claim for income support made on 14 November 1988 was disallowed on the ground that he was engaged in remunerative work of 24 hours or more within the terms of section 20(3)(c) of the Social Security Act 1986 and regulation 5 of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987.
As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 6 July at column 247, we are considering ways of minimising the risk of families failing to qualify for either benefit.
Computerisation
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the items of personal data held in the new computerised departmental central index, the size of the index, and how many accesses were made to the index over the last two months.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 15 June 1989 at column 531.
Social Fund
Mr. Steinberg : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what statistical information he has as to the reasons given to applicants by social fund officers at the local office in Durham city for the refusal in respect of an application for social fund loans.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The information requested is shown in the table.
Reasons for refusal of Social Fund loans 1988-89
|number of times reason|As per cent. of total
|given |times reason given
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office: Durham City
Savings over £500 sufficient to
meet cost |1 |0.2
Not in receipt of IS |47 |8.4
Not in receipt of IS for 26 weeks |171 |30.4
Excluded items |29 |5.2
Excluded persons |1 |0.2
Amount < £30 (not travelling
expenses) |13 |2.3
Total debt of £1,000 |1 |0.2
Previous application and decision
for the item |24 |4.3
No serious damage or risk to
health or safety |12 |2.1
Inability to repay |14 |2.5
Help available from another
source |15 |2.7
Insufficient SF funds, priority too
low |174 |31.0
Suitable alternative available |19 |3.4
Loan refused because CCG
awarded |23 |4.1
Other |18 |3.2
|--- |---
Total |562
Note: the proportions have been calculated as percentages of the total number of reasons for refusal.
The total number of reasons for refusal may equal or exceed the total number of refusals because the
social fund officer can give more than one reason for refusing an application.
Students and Trainees
Mr. Lester : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances (a) full-time students/trainees and (b) part-time students/trainees would be eligible for (i) income support and (ii) housing benefit.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : Students who are disabled, or lone parents, are eligible for income support while attending full, or part-time courses. Other full-time students can claim only during the summer vacation. Those attending part-time courses can claim income support providing they are available for employment.
All trainees exempt for the requirement to be available for work, including those in receipt of a Government training allowance, are eligible for income support. Other trainees aged 18 or over may qualify for income support only if they are available for work. Students and trainees may claim housing benefit throughout the year for the home which they occupy, as long as it is not rented from their education establishment. Students and trainees receiving income support are eligible for maximum housing benefit for their rent and rates.
Official Hospitality
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was spent on official hospitality by his Department in 1988-89.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : The total expenditure on hospitality by the Departments of Social Security and Health in 1988-89 was around £100, 000.
Separate figures are not available for 1988-89 because the Departments operated a joint administration vote.
Computer Centre, Livingston
Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has for the staffing of his Department's new computer centre in Livingston.
Mr. Moore : The area computer centre at Livingston is the first of three new, purpose-built computer centres which will handle the payment of income support and pension claims. In accordance with the Government's policy of testing the market, I have examined whether the centre could better be operated by my Department along the lines of its other major computer installations, or by the private sector on my behalf.
The examination has taken account of a range of considerations including the need to provide a secure
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service to the public, the benefits to be gained from introducing competitive pressure into the Department's operations and the value of having a predictable cost profile over future years.On the basis of an evaluation of competitive tenders, I have concluded that the advantage lies with contracting out the operation of the centre and I intend to award a contract to Electronic Data Systems, a company with extensive experience of setting up and running operations
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involving the production of large volumes of secure items. The contract will run for five years. The company will work under the supervision and direction of the Department's information technology services directorate and will be subject to strict control and monitoring to ensure adherence to the statutory requirements for the protection of information supplied by claimants and to the agreed standards of service.
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