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Mr. Nicholas Bennett : South Glamorgan health authority has provided the following breakdown of patients accommodated at ward west 3.
|Number
---------------------
1986 |192
1987 |170
1988 |166
1989 |192
1990 |208
No information on extra costs is available. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer earlier today as to additional funding made available by the Welsh Office for Whitchurch hospital's special role.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons detained at Whitchurch hospital have escaped in each of the last five years.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Two patients are reported by South Glamorgan health authority to have escaped from ward west 3 over the past five years, in 1987 and 1989. In addition, two patients absconded whilst on authorised parole, both during 1990.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what review he has made of security arrangements at Whitchurch hospital following the escape of Andrew Peter Jones and others ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : This is a matter for South Glamorgan health authority.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the provision of medium secure accommodation for persons who are now directed to Whitchurch hospital.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Following my hon. Friend's announcement on 21 February 1990, the all-Wales advisory group on forensic psychiatry is due to report during the spring. In the meantime, work has commenced
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on an interim secure unit at Glanrhyd hospital in Mid Glamorgan which is likely to take its first patients during 1991.Cholesterol Tests
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of tests for high cholesterol blood counts carried out, and the corresponding number of such tests requested, for each health authority, for the latest available date.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The information is not available centrally.
Departmental Personnel
Mr. Geraint Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by his Department in Cardiff and London ; and what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years.
Mr. David Hunt : The numbers of staff employed by the Welsh Office in Cardiff and London over the last 10 years can be fully disaggregated only at disproportionate cost. Setting aside those employed in the main offices outside these locations gives the following figures for 1 October of each year.
1 October |Number ------------------------------ 1990 |1,931 1989 |1,809 1988 |1,739 1987 |1,817 1986 |1,842 1985 |1,835 1984 |1,742 1983 |1,690 1982 |1,722 1981 |1,781 1980 |1,844
These include small numbers of staff in the Colwyn Bay office and some education division and CADW staff.
Speech Therapists
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the numbers of speech therapists employed in each county in Wales for each of the years since 1980 ; and what was the revenue expenditure on speech therapy services in Wales in each year since 1980.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Information on speech therapists employed and revenue expenditure on speech therapy by health authorities in Wales is given in the following tables. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will share my pleasure at the substantial improvements made since this Government came into office in 1979.
No information is held centrally on the numbers, if any, of speech therapists employed or revenue expenditure on speech therapy by county councils.
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Speech therapists in post as at 30 September
Whole-time equivalents
|1980|1981|1982|1983|1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989|1990
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |12.4|12.1|12.7|12.7|14.4|17.6|17.4|23.3|24.7|24.3|29.4
East Dyfed |7.3 |7.4 |5.4 |6.4 |8.4 |13.3|13.3|14.0|15.3|15.3
Pembrokeshire |2.0 |2.5 |4.0 |4.0 |4.0 |6.0 |6.0 |5.0 |5.0
Gwent |7.1 |10.0|11.9|12.7|12.8|15.9|16.9|14.9|12.1|15.4|16.1
Gwynedd |6.8 |7.5 |8.6 |8.6 |8.0 |9.4 |11.0|10.0|11.9|11.7|11.3
Mid Glamorgan |11.0|12.5|12.1|13.6|17.6|14.6|12.6|17.0|19.5|18.0|18.4
Powys |4.7 |5.6 |5.7 |6.7 |5.8 |5.8 |4.8 |3.8 |7.5 |8.9 |8.4
South Glamorgan |16.4|17.4|15.7|15.7|18.6|28.7|27.0|27.6|27.7|30.8|32.6
West Glamorgan |8.6 |8.5 |12.6|13.1|13.3|13.2|13.2|14.2|19.7|20.9|17.9
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Expenditure on speech therapy in real terms
£ thousands
|1979-80|1980-81|1981-82|1982-83|1983-84|1984-85|1985-86|1986-87|1987-88|1988-89|1989-90
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clwyd |164 |162 |168 |191 |187 |199 |233 |252 |297 |353 |402
East Dyfed |108 |107 |117 |94 |116 |139 |146 |172 |190 |176 |191
Pembrokeshire |35 |38 |42 |45 |65 |54 |61 |57
Gwent |129 |123 |146 |163 |185 |193 |209 |195 |187 |170 |194
Gwynedd |34 |81 |111 |126 |131 |139 |145 |160 |162 |211 |193
Mid Glamorgan |133 |157 |166 |235 |186 |214 |174 |192 |232 |258 |248
Powys |49 |62 |66 |78 |87 |88 |87 |75 |92 |135 |146
South Glamorgan |192 |220 |228 |221 |273 |281 |392 |436 |403 |453 |492
West Glamorgan |105 |123 |149 |169 |164 |193 |178 |193 |221 |255 |261
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amount of cash in real terms has been given in each year, from 1980 onwards, to speech therapy in the NHS and the local education authorities.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : Responsibility for the financing and provision of speech therapy services was transferred to the NHS in 1974 at the time of the NHS reorganisation. The level of funding provided for these services is a matter
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for individual health authorities to determine in the light of their perception of local needs and of available resources. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer earlier today as to information on outturn expenditure on speech therapy in Wales in real terms since 1980.Column 611
Environmental Grants
Dr. Marek : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) of 22 January, Official Report, column 126, on environmental grants, if he will give the total sum available in the special grants (environmental) programme budget for 1991-92 ; and whether there is a last date for applications.
Mr. David Hunt : The total sum available under the special grants (environmental) programme for 1991-92 is £144,000. Applications were asked for by 15 November 1990, but subsequent applications will be given full consideration subject to funding being available.
Stroke Victims
Mr. Barry Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy on the provision for stroke victims of (a) speech therapy, and (b) occupational therapy.
Mr. Nicholas Bennett : The provision of speech and occupational therapy for persons having suffered a stroke is a matter for district health authorities to decide in the light of clinical assessment on individual need and available resources.
Welsh Office circular 24/90, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, provides advice and guidance to health and other authorities on the development and provision of services for people with physical and/or sensory disabilities. Annex A of the circular draws attention to the particular needs of stroke patients.
Welsh National Opera
Mr. Grist : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement about the financial position of the Welsh National Opera.
Mr. David Hunt : I am glad that the Arts Council of Great Britain has now agreed to increase its annual grant to the Welsh National Opera by £300,000 with effect from 1991-92 and that this will also be written into the company's baseline for the succeeding two financial years. This additional grant will enable the WNO to fulfil its planned touring commitment in England and undertake a full programme of activity in future years without incurring trading deficits. I have also been concerned about the drain on the company's resources occasioned by the high level of interest payments on its accumulated deficit. I have, therefore, exceptionally agreed to transfer £842,000 from within my existing provision to the Office of Arts and Libraries so that the Arts Council can be put in a position to eliminate the projected deficit before the end of this financial year.
I have taken this action in recognition of the Welsh National Opera's unique contribution to Wales. Not only has the company received international acclaim for the quality of its work, but it has presented a positive image of Wales abroad and has supported efforts to promote Wales's economic interests.
The management of the Welsh National Opera company is being given an unparalleled opportunity to build on a secure financial base. It is essential that it should
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take all appropriate steps to ensure that the company is managed effectively, efficiently and economically. There can be no excuse for further deficits.I welcome the fact that further arrangements are being made for the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Welsh Arts Council to monitor the company's management and financial performance to ensure that effective budgetary controls are in place. My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts also intends to keep a close watch on the situation.
HEALTH
NHS Statistics
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is (a) the number of nurses employed in the national health service in each year since 1979 and (b) the average number of NHS occupied hospital beds in each year since 1979 for which figures are available ; and if he will show, in both cases, the percentage change in each year.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The available information is given in the table.
NHS nursing and midwifery staff and average number of available
and occupied beds England 1979-1989
Year |Nursing and |Percentage change
|Midwifery staff at|on previous year
|30 September<1>
|Whole-time
|equivalents<2>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1979 |<3>358,400 |-
1980 |<3>370,100 |3.3
1981 |391,800 |5.9
1982 |397,100 |1.4
1983 |397,100 |0.0
1984 |397,500 |0.1
1985 |401,200 |0.9
1986 |402,700 |0.4
1987 |404,000 |0.3
1988 |403,900 |-0.0
1989 |405,300 |0.3
Average number of occupied beds
| (thousands)
1979 |293 |-
1980 |289 |-1.4
1981 |285 |-1.4
1982 |279 |-2.1
1983 |276 |-1.1
1984 |269 |-2.5
1985 |263 |-2.2
1986 |254 |-3.4
1987-1988 |<4>- |-
1988-1989 |<4>- |-
1989-1990 |<4>- |-
Sources:
Manpower:
Department of Health (SM13) annual census of NHS
non-medical manpower
Beds:
Department of Health (SM12) returns
SH3. return 1979-1986
KHO3. return 1987-88-1898-90
<1> All figures are independently rounded to the nearest hundred (100).
Percentages calculated on unrounded figures.
<2> Includes agency staff and all qualified nurse and midwives, learners
and unqualified nursing staff.
<3> The WTE figures prior to 1981 have not been adjusted to reflect
the reduction in the standard weekly hours for nurses, from 40 to 37.5
hours per week, which occurred during 1980-81.
<4> Information not available centrally beyond 1986.
Cancer Deaths
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each regional health authority the number of deaths caused by (a) lung cancer, (b) throat cancer and (c) breast cancer for each of the last 10 years ; and if he will show in his answer for (a) and (b) above, by sex.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Salmonella
Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the occasions since 1 January 1990 on which the public health laboratory service has identified salmonella in consignments of imported eggs, giving the date of discovery and the country of origin of the consignment ; and if he will make a statement on the public health implications.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is given in the tables.
Isolates of Salmonella Enteritidis from
imported eggs 1990
Date of isolation 1990
----------------------------------------------
9 April
18 April
1 June
2 June
11 June
16 July
16 July
16 July
25 July
7 August
8 August
20 August
31 August
10 September
12 September
20 September
20 September
24 September
1 October
30 October
17 December
Date of isolation 1990
15 June
1 August
31 August
21 September
19 October
28 October
8 November
Isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium from imported eggs 1990 Date of isolation 1990 Country of origin
15 June Holland
1 August France
31 August Holland
21 September Holland
19 October Holland
28 October Holland
8 November Belgium
Gulf Casualties
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by regional health authority and by district health authority, the number of pay beds requisitioned for receiving Gulf casualties ; how many national health service beds have been requisitioned ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : Health authorities have not yet been asked to set aside beds for Gulf casualties.
Pay beds are authorised subject only to the statutory requirement that there be no significant disadvantage to
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NHS patients. Health service managers will ensure that these beds are made available should they be required for Gulf casualties or other priority cases.Hospital Beds
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average number of beds available within the Doncaster health authority area in 1980, 1985 and 1990 ; what is the current actual position ; and what are the comparable figures for England as a whole.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested is shown in the table.
Number of average daily available beds
|1980 |1985 |1989-90
------------------------------------------
England |355,979|325,487|270,334
Doncaster |1,772 |1,879 |1,657
Number of inpatients treated
Finished hospital stayFinished
(Discharges and DeathsConsultant
Episodes
|1980 |1985 |1989-90<1>
-------------------------------------------------------
England |5,670,001 |6,353,812 |7,476,625
Doncaster |29,828 |39,936 |47,926
<1> Figures for 1989-90 refer to finished consultant
episodes and should not be directly compared with
earlier figures (discharges and deaths).
In 1988-89 when data were collected on both bases, finished consultant episodes in Trent exceeded discharges and deaths by 8 per cent.
Red-eared Terrapins
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is any medical evidence of human health risks from contaminated red-eared terrapins.
Mr. Dorrell : In every outbreak of salmonellosis investigated by the public health laboratory services communicable disease surveillance centre (CDSC) in England and Wales, questions are asked about contact with pets and other animals. CDSC has yet to document an outbreak associated with terrapins.
A number of studies into terrapin associated salmonellosis have been carried out in the United States of America. These studies are mostly 10 or more years old but a study in 1985 showed that 10 out of 60 infant cases in Puerto Rico has a history of exposure to pet turtles.
(In this context turtle is the American term for terrapin.) However, the information from this study cannot be extrapolated to all cases in the United States of America, still less to cases in England and Wales.
The salmonella serotypes most commonly associated with terrapins in the United States of America are rare in this country. In 1989 and 1990 there were no reports at all of infection with S Urbana, the serotype most strongly associated with terrapins in American studies. There is no prima facie evidence that terrapins constitute a significant public health problem in England and Wales.
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Waltham Forest Health Service
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give details, including the date it was submitted, of the preparatory application by Waltham Forest health service to become a self-governing trust from April 1992.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Waltham Forest health authority originally submitted an expression of interest in becoming an NHS trust in August 1990. A subsequent expression in which Claybury hospital was excluded from the configuration of the proposed trust was submitted on 12 December 1990.
The revised expression of interest was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 14 January this year at column 418.
Disabled Persons
Mr. Hannam : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to finish consultations with local authority associations on sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultations and Representation) Act 1986.
Mr. Dorrell : Officials concluded consultations with local authority associations on the costs of implementing these sections at the end of last year. The outcome of these consultations is now under consideration and a statement will be made in due course.
Abortion
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he now expects to publish the findings of the Royal College of General Practitioners' study into post-abortion trauma, commissioned in 1976 ; what work his Department is undertaking into the physical and psychological effects of abortion ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The researchers have recently produced papers for publication and others will follow shortly. All the findings of this study will be considered carefully as will the need for further work in this field.
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to respond to the Social Services Select Committee's 10th report of Session 1989-90 on the conscience provisions of the Abortion Act 1967 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : We are carefully considering the Committee's report and will be publishing our response shortly.
Mental Hospitals
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions over the past 10 years and in respect of which properties his Department has specifically agreed that (a) capital proceeds and (b) revenue arising from the disposal of hospitals for the mentally ill need not be used for the benefit of the mentally ill.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that (a) the capital
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proceeds and (b) the revenue arising from the disposal of hospitals for the mentally ill has been used by health authorities for the benefit of the mentally ill, as provided in his Department's handbook "Property Transactions in the NHS" ; and if he will make a statement ;(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that health authorities are fully aware of the contents of his Department's handbook "Property Transactions in the NHS" ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Dorrell : The handbook "Property Transactions in the NHS" was issued widely throughout the NHS in August 1989. It was issued under cover of a health notice HN(89)13 (a copy of which is available in the Library) which, in its annex, listed those occasions when health authorities were required to refer property transactions to the Department. The Department does not routinely monitor compliance with the requirements of "Property Transactions in the NHS", but we have no reason to think the health authorities are not co-operating.
Hearing Aids
Mr. Ashley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking as a result of the responses he has received to the consultation paper on the provision of hearing aid services under the national health service.
Mr. Dorrell : Twelve direct referral pilot projects have been established in hospitals throughout England. These projects are being independently evaluated by a team of researchers from the university of Manchester. We do not expect to have the results of the evaluation before spring 1992.
Elderly People
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to local authorities about publicising the availability of alternatives to the institutional care of elderly or disabled people.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : "Community Care in the Next Decade and Beyond : Policy Guidance" was published in November 1990 and issued to local and health authorities. A copy is in the Library. It includes guidance on publishing accessible information on the types of community care services available. Local authorities are expected to include in their published care plans the arrangements made in this respect.
The Policy Studies Institute is carrying out on behalf of the Department a study of user information needs in order to provide further guidance to authorities.
Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital beds have been closed in the Mersey region due to the transfer of elderly patients to private or charitable nursing homes.
Mr. Dorrell : We do not hold this information centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Donald Wilson, the chairman of Mersey regional health authority, for details.
Wakefield Health Authority
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has received from Yorkshire regional health authority regarding the reasons for the current financial position of Wakefield health authority.
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Mr. Dorrell : The national health service management executive receives regular reports from regional health authorities which monitor the financial position of their districts. In addition, there is regular contact between the national health service management executive and the regional health authorities at all levels.Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by Yorkshire regional health authority to monitor the management of Wakefield health authority over the past five years.
Mr. Dorrell : Yorkshire regional health authority has well- established arrangements for monitoring its districts. I suggest the hon. Member contacts Sir Bryan Askew, chairman of the regional health authority, for details.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set up a full and independent inquiry into the management of Wakefield health authority over the past five years.
Mr. Dorrell : No. Management of Wakefield district health authority is the responsibility of Yorkshire regional health authority.
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take urgent steps to ensure that the current financial position of Wakefield health authority does not result in further reductions in health care provision within local hospitals or community services.
Mr. Dorrell : It is the responsibility of regional health authorities to allocate finances to the district in the light of local circumstances and priorities.
Extra-contractual Referrals
Mr. Robin Cook : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department is giving to health authorities on the proportion of their budget they should allocate to meeting the costs of extra-contractual referrals.
Mr. Dorrell : District health authorities will need to keep a reserve to cover the costs of expected levels of extra-contractual referrals. These will vary according to local needs and circumstances.
Vinegar
Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether, over the last 12 months, his officials have met representatives of the vinegar industry to discuss the health implications of the over-consumption of vinegar ; and if he will make a statement.
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Operating Theatre Sessions
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) for each of the past three years and (b) for each health district (i) the number of scheduled sessions held in operating theatres, (ii) the number of scheduled sessions that were cancelled, (iii) the number of cases operated on in scheduled sessions and (iv) the total number of cases operated on.
Mr. Dorrell : The information requested has been collected since the financial year 1987-88 and copies of the summary booklet "NHS Operating Theatres Availability and Use" for 1987-88 and 1988-89 have been placed in the Library. The 1989-90 data are due to be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.
SCOTLAND
Household Incomes
Mr. Dewar : To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of households in Scotland have a weekly income of less than £100.
Mr. Lang : It is estimated that in 1989 approximately 25 per cent. of households in Scotland had gross income below £100 per week ; just over two thirds of these were one-person households. This is the latest year for which information is available from the family expenditure survey.
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