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Mr. Sackville : This information is not available.
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to doctors in regard to dealing with abortions where the attempted abortion fails and a live birth follows and, in particular, on the advice given to mothers about whether they should disclose this to the surviving person.
Dr. Spink : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the number of people who have attempted to gain legal redress, against the National Health Service or any other body or person, for damages suffered where an abortion failed and the pregnancy resulted in a live birth.
Mr. Sackville : I am not aware of any such cases.
Anaesthetists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by regional health authority the current establishment requirement for anaesthetists ; and how many are in post.
Dr. Mawhinney : There are currently no "establishment requirements" set for hospital doctors in the National Health Service. The table gives the provisional number of consultant anaesthetists, expressed in the form of "whole-time equivalent", in England, by region as at 30 September 1991 (the latest date for which figures are available).
Hospital medical consultants
anaesthetists in England and by region
-30 September 1991 (provisional
figures)
|Whole Time
|Equivalent
----------------------------------------
England |2,030
Northern |130
Yorkshire |140
Trent |200
East Anglia |90
North West Thames |110
North East Thames |160
South East Thames |160
South West Thames |110
Wessex |120
Oxford |90
South Western |140
West Midlands |250
Mersey |120
North Western |180
SHAs |30
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
Seals
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what beneficial medical by-products of the Greenland, harp, hooded or crested seal are recognised by her Department ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : Records are held on licensed medicinal products and medical devices rather than medical by-products. These show that there are currently no such products making use of, or containing, extracts of seal.
Drug Imports
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans her Department's Medicines Control Agency has for proposals for reviewing the introduction of a requirement for all drug imports into the United Kingdom to have documentation certifying their country of origin ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : There are no plans to review the introduction of such a requirement. The United Kingdom licensing system is kept under constant review and amendments are made when considered necessary.
Extra-contractual Referrals
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department is making in respect of extra-contractual referrals being made more readily available for patients requesting them ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : We have always made clear that general practitioners are free to refer their patients to whichever hospital or other unit best meets the needs of the patient. We remain committed to this principle.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of extra-contractual referrals were refused in each regional health authority in 1991-92.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by regional health authority how many extra-contractual referrals were returned during the financial years (a) 1991-92 and (b) 1992-93 to date.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not collected centrally.
West Midlands Air Ambulance Service
Ms. Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to safeguard the funding of the West Midlands air ambulance service.
Column 72
Mr. Sackville : Air ambulance services are currently under evaluation and, until this has been completed, no investment is being made from central funds. In the meantime, it is for health authorities in West Midlands region, as purchasers, to decide whether to fund this service from their financial allocations.
Theatre Sessions
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the average weekly number of theatre sessions for each regional health authority for the year ended March 1992 and for the current year to date.
Mr. Sackville : The available information is given in the table.
Operating theatre sessions: average number per week in 1991-92
(provisional)
RHA |Scheduled sessions|Weekly rate
|held
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |53,089 |1,019
Yorkshire |57,949 |1,112
Trent |64,970 |1,247
East Anglian |32,242 |619
North West Thames |48,558 |932
North East Thames |68,513 |1,315
South East Thames |63,258 |1,214
South West Thames |50,364 |967
Wessex |43,165 |829
Oxford |34,098 |654
South Western |54,799 |1,052
West Midlands |79,674 |1,529
Mersey |46,532 |893
North Western |79,617 |1,528
Special health authorities |15,631 |300
Air Pollutants
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what preliminary reports she has received from the advisory committee she set up on the assessment of exposure to air pollutants on health ; when she hopes to have the committee's final conclusions ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 June at columns 221-22. The Advisory Group on the Medical Aspects of Air Pollution Episodes was set up to look at the short term health effects of exposure to specific air pollutants. The Group's second report on "Sulphur Dioxide, Acid Aerosols and Particulates" is to be published shortly and a copy will be placed in the Library.
The group currently studying the oxides of nitrogen and its third report is expected to be published in 1993.
This year the Department also set up the committee on the medical effects of air pollutants which held its inaugural meeting at the end of May. Its terms of reference are :
"At the request of the Department of Health,
(a) to assess and advise Government on the effects upon health of air pollutants both in indoor and outdoor air, and to assess the adequacy of the available data and the need for research. (b) to co-ordinate with other bodies concerned with the assessment of the effects of exposure to air pollutants and the associated risks to health and to advise on new scientific discoveries relevant to the effects of air pollutants upon health."
Column 73
The Department has asked the committee to advise on the link between exposure to low levels of air pollution and asthma, the effects of exposure to ambient levels of carbon monoxide in urban areas, and the effects of exposure to benzene.Food Poisoning
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning have been notified to the OPCS for England and Wales for each year since 1980 ; if she will provide a total figure and a regional breakdown of the total ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The information is shown in the table.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1980<2>
1980<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |10,071|n/a |10,071
Wales |438 |n/a |438
Northern |504 |n/a |504
Yorkshire |1,065 |n/a |1,065
Trent |820 |n/a |820
East Anglian |279 |n/a |279
North West Thames |743 |n/a |743
North East Thames |804 |n/a |804
South East Thames |622 |n/a |622
South West Thames |662 |n/a |662
Wessex |373 |n/a |373
Oxford |636 |n/a |636
South Western |618 |n/a |618
West Midlands |1,190 |n/a |1,190
Mersey |360 |n/a |360
North Western |957 |n/a |957
<1> The number of food poisoning cases
ascertained by other means' other than formal
notification, were first reported to OPCS by
local authorities in 1982.
<2> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Column 74
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Column 75
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Column 76
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Column 77
Notifications of food poisoning which were: (
a) formally notified;
(b) ascertained by other means; and (c) total
for England and
Wales (not including port health authorities)
and by regional health
authority (RHA), 1991<1>
1991<1>
RHA |a |b |c
----------------------------------------------
England and Wales |35,289|17,251|52,540
Wales |2,715 |670 |3,385
Northern |2,427 |1,301 |3,728
Yorkshire |3,759 |1,903 |5,662
Trent |3,196 |1,468 |4,664
East Anglian |956 |552 |1,508
North West Thames |2,516 |761 |3,277
North East Thames |2,550 |752 |3,302
South East Thames |2,637 |638 |3,275
South West Thames |2,130 |1,262 |3,392
Wessex |1,522 |1,367 |2,889
Oxford |1,823 |510 |2,333
South Western |2,102 |1,377 |3,479
West Midlands |3,224 |2,285 |5,509
Mersey |1,418 |187 |1,605
North Western |2,314 |2,218 |4,532
<1> Provisional.
Waiting Lists
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the numbers of patients waiting for in-patient treatment on 31 March, for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main speciality for periods (i) under 12 months, (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months.
Mr. Sackville : The information requested is given in the publication "Hospital Waiting List, In-Patients and Day Cases" (ISBN 1 85839 003 6), a copy of which is available in the Library.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the numbers of patients waiting for out-patient treatment on 31 March, for each individual health authority (a) in total and (b) by main speciality for periods (i) under 12 months, (ii) 12 to 24 months and (iii) over 24 months.
Mr. Sackville : Figures for out-patient waiting times are not collected centrally. All health authorities are required under the patients charter to publish information on the local standards they have set for waiting times for first out-patient appointments and on performance against these targets.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of patient waiting lists by regional health authority area for (a) July, (b) August and (c) September of the current year.
Mr. Sackville : On 11 August we announced that, in future, provisional waiting time figures would be published on a quarterly basis. Figures for the three months to 30 September 1992 are not yet available centrally.
Medical Records
Mr. Llew Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist for the transfer of medical records for the national health service to registered medical practitioners in other European Community countries when British citizens move to other countries in the European Community for work or retirement.
Column 78
Mr. Sackville : General practitioner medical records are the property of the national health service and are retained in the country for NHS purposes including the possible future care and treatment of the patient. Patients who plan to live abroad may approach their GP to obtain a precis of their medical history or a copy of their medical records to give to any practitioner in the new country of residence.
Leukaemia
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she is yet in a position to publish the findings of the study undertaken by the north London blood transfusion service on behalf of her Department, into the risks associated with blood transfusions involving human T-cell leukaemia ; what plans she has to ask other blood transfusion services to carry out similar studies on behalf of her Department ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The north London blood transfusion centre (NLBTC) undertook a study on behalf of the United Kingdom blood transfusion services, to determine the prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV) in the blood of a sample donor population. Preliminary results of that study were published in abstract form at the British Blood Transfusion Society annual meeting, Nottingham 1991 and again in abstract form at the Montpelier symposium on HTLV held in March 1992. I have arranged for copies of those abstracts to be placed in the Library.
The NLBTC is now undertaking a more detailed analysis of the findings with a view to submitting them shortly for publication in a scientific journal.
The independent expert advisory committee which advises Ministers on topics relevant to the safety of the blood supply, will keep under review developments concerning HTLV and its detection. It will also review whether further studies or other measures are necessary to maintain the safety of the blood supply. I will write to the hon. Member with further details.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to hold centrally records by regional health authorities of the number of cases of cancer that have been reported that were associated with the virus human T-cell leukaemia, including the number of those cases that proved fatal ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : I have no plans to introduce such a policy.
Ambulance Service
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the criteria which need to be satisfied when calling for an ambulance to respond in an emergency.
Mr. Sackville : Anyone may call an NHS ambulance following an accident, sudden illness or collapse.
Mr. Spearing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department has concerning the ratio between activated and stand-by time of emergency ambulance areas generally necessary to achieve ORCON standards under different patterns of population and traffic density.
Column 79
Mr. Sackville : The deployment of ambulance personnel and vehicles to meet national emergency performance standards is a matter for local ambulance service providers and their purchasers.
Orimulsion
Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted by her Department on the effects of the toxic ash particles upon the human lung produced during the burning of orimulsion.
Dr. Mawhinney : None. Biomedical research is a matter for the Medical Research Council which is funded by the Office of Science and Technology.
The burning of orimulsion produces relatively high levels of sulphur dioxide, vanadium and nickel compared with other fuels. However, owing to tight controls being implemented as a result of European Community directives, trace quantities of toxic chemicals which are emitted from incinerators and other combustion processes, should not be at levels which would be expected to cause adverse health effects.
Inflammatory Bowel Disorder
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her practice to hold central records from regional health authorities of the average current delay between patients reporting (a) symptoms starting and (b) diagnosis of patients with inflammatory bowel disorder ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : It would be neither appropriate nor cost effective to collect this information centrally.
Skin Cancer
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department holds on the United Kingdom morbidity and mortality rates for skin cancer in each year since 1979 ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The information is shown in the table.
There has been a rise in the number of cases of skin cancer (non-melanotic cancer and the rarer malignant melanoma) in recent years. On the latest available information there are about 28,000 cases of skin cancer a year and about 1,500 deaths. The main risk factor which is believed to account for the increase in incidence is the increased extent to which people expose themselves to ultraviolet radiation (UV), primarily sunlight.
Mortality and incidence rates (per
100,000 population) for
malignant melanoma of skin (ICD 172),
and other malignant
neoplasm of skin (ICD 173), for Great
Britain 1979-1991.
Mortality RaIncidence Rate
|172 |173 |172 |173
--------------------------------------
1979 |1.63 |0.78 |3.81 |40.32
1980 |1.65 |0.74 |4.04 |41.75
1981 |1.74 |0.77 |4.20 |43.65
1982 |1.90 |0.76 |4.36 |42.91
1983 |1.72 |0.82 |4.71 |44.80
1984 |2.00 |0.88 |4.70 |45.78
1985 |1.98 |0.93 |5.60 |48.08
1986 |2.08 |0.82 |5.88 |54.34
1987 |2.05 |0.88 |<2>- |-
1988 |2.14 |0.85 |- |-
1989 |2.17 |0.88 |- |-
1990 |2.31 |0.86 |- |-
<1>1991 |2.30 |0.92 |- |-
<1> 1991 population figures are not
available and consequently 1990
population figures have been used to
calculate the 1991 mortality rate.
<2> Registration data for the
calculation of incidence rates
1987-1991 are not available.
Source OPCS DH2 Mortality Statistics,
MB1 Cancer Registrations.
Scottish Cancer Registration Scheme,
Information and Statistics Division,
Common Services Agency.
Mr. Simon Hughes : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate Her Majesty's Government has made of projected increases in skin cancer resulting from a 1 per cent. decline in the total column ozone ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) is an important factor influencing the number of cases of skin cancer which develop, and levels of UV at ground level are influenced by changes of levels of ozone in the stratosphere. However, stratopheric ozone levels are just one of the factors influencing the amount of UV reaching the ground. Seasonal variations in solar UV levels and short term variations due to cloud cover and local weather conditions are far in excess of any variations anticipated as a result of ozone depletion. The position is further complicated by variability in people's behaviour in relation to exposure to sunlight. Estimates of increases in skin cancer based solely on an estimate of ozone depletion would be misleading.
Thyroid Cancer
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by regional health authority, and by year since 1985, including the current year to date, the number of cases of thyroid cancer that have been reported and the number of cases that involved (a) children and (b) adults.
Mr. Sackville : The information is shown in the table.
Number of cases of malignant neoplasm
of the thyroid gland<1>
for England and Wales, Regional
health authority, 1985-87
|1985|1986|1987
--------------------------------------
England and Wales |679 |734 |755
Wales |58 |39 |60
Northern |38 |49 |42
Yorkshire |53 |47 |49
Trent |55 |84 |65
East Anglian |28 |41 |27
North West Thames |46 |57 |41
North East Thames |28 |39 |44
South East Thames |60 |41 |47
South West Thames |39 |38 |40
Wessex |55 |39 |50
Oxford |- |40 |44
South Western |58 |62 |51
West Midlands |84 |74 |100
Mersey |26 |28 |35
North Western |51 |56 |60
<1> International Classification
Disease code 193.
Number of cases of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland for England and Wales,
Regional health authority, 1985-87 by age breakdown
1985 1986 1987
|Under 15|15+ over|Under 15|15+ over|Under 15|15+ over
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England and Wales |4 |675 |6 |728 |6 |749
Wales |3 |55 |- |39 |- |60
Northern |- |38 |- |49 |1 |41
Yorkshire |- |53 |- |47 |- |49
Trent |- |55 |- |84 |- |65
East Anglian |- |28 |- |41 |- |27
North West Thames |- |46 |1 |56} |41
North East Thames |- |28 |- |39} |44
South East Thames |- |60 |1 |40} |<1>1 |47
South West Thames |- |39 |1 |37} |40
Wessex |- |55 |- |39 |1 |49
Oxford |- |- |1 |39 |2 |42
South Western |- |58 |1 |61 |- |51
West Midlands |- |84 |- |74 |1 |99
Mersey |- |26 |1 |27 |- |35
North Western |1 |50 |- |56 |- |60
<1> One case of malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland for 1987 only
identifiable as Thames.
Foster Care
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to introduce a minimum weekly allowance to foster carers on a sliding scale based on the age of the child cared for.
NHS Trusts
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trust boards have held (a) one to six or (b) more than six public consultative meetings.
Dr. Mawhinney : The information requested is not collected centrally. Every national health service trust is required to hold one public meeting every year, other than in the year it became operational.
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by NHS trust, the number of staff who are currently in NHS pensions schemes and those who have elected to change to a private pension scheme run on behalf of the trust.
Dr. Mawhinney : This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the current level of remuneration for (a) chairs and (b) non-executive directors of NHS trust boards.
Dr. Mawhinney : Chairmen are remunerated in one of three bands dependent on the revenue turnover of the trust (or its equivalent) in a given financial year (1988-89). The bandings are shown in the table.
Unit turnover |Current rates
1988-89
|£
--------------------------------------------------------------
Band 1
Turnover in excess of £50 million |19,285
Band 2
Turnover between £20-£50 million |17,145
Band 3
Turnover less than £20 million |15,125
Non-executive directors are paid at a flat rate of £5,000 per
annum.
Column 82
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trust boards admit community health council representatives into their meetings.
Dr. Mawhinney : This information is not held centrally. Community health councils have the right to attend any national health service trust meeting which is open to the public. It is up to the individual trust to decide whether to invite the community health council to attend meetings which are otherwise closed to the public.
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria will determine her decision as between expressions of interest in trust status from south Manchester ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : These expressions of interest will be considered against five criteria, taking into account patient choice and competition, the extent to which clinical services and management are already integrated, size and range of services, effect on purchasing and local views.
Water Fluoridation
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost benefit analyses have been carried out by her Department on the reduction of dental caries in children that would result from fluoridation of the drinking water supply in those areas where no artificial fluoridation is being carried out and where naturally occurring levels are below 1 part per million ; and if she will make a statement.
Dr. Mawhinney : It is for individual health authorities to consider whether water fluoridation in their area is cost effective, taking into account local factors. No cost benefit analyses have been carried out by the Department.
Potatoes
Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information her Department holds on the health risks to consumers through the consumption of potatoes that have been treated with Tecnazene.
Mr. Sackville : Tecnazene, as with all pesticides, is approved for use following advice from the statutory advisory committee on pesticides. It has concluded that there is currently no evidence of risk to the health of consumers arising from the use of tecnazene on potatoes but is continuing its review of all the available data.
Column 83
The Department holds copies of the scientific papers on this matter that have been put before the committee. Once the committee has completed its review an evaluation document which will contain an assessment of all these data will be published.Atopic Illnesses
Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of asthma and other atopic illnesses were reported in (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992 to date ; and how many of these were children under 10 years of age.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not held centrally.
Dentistry
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she intends to take to increase awareness of patients' rights to claim reductions in, or exemptions from, charges for dental treatment.
Dr. Mawhinney : Under the new dental contract introduced in October 1990, dentists are, for the first time, required to display in a prominent position at their practice premises a notice, indicating national health service charges which are payable under general dental services and giving details of entitlement to exemption from and remission of such NHS charges. In addition there are already leaflets available to the public on dental charges and NHS charges more generally. A comple-mentary series of leaflets in ethnic languages is planned for the near future.
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the current number of dentists (a) in the NHS, (b) in private practice and (c) practising both privately and in the NHS ; what are the comparable figures for the previous five years ; and if she will make a statement on the trends.
Dr. Mawhinney : The number of dentists providing general dental services in England under the national health service as at 30 September each year was as follows :
Year |Number --------------------- 1987 |14,765 1988 |15,070 1989 |15,351 1990 |15,480 1991 |15,451 These figures are consistent with the increase of nearly 30 per cent. since 1978 in the numbers of dentists providing dental treatment under the NHS.
The figures do not include dentists who provide treatment under the hospital and community dental services.
The information requested on the numbers of dentists who practise privately, in whole or in part, is not held centrally.
Smoking
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the actions taken by Her Majesty's Government to assist the work of Action on Smoking and Health in publicising the dangers of cigarette smoking.
Column 84
Dr. Mawhinney : The Department has a long history of supporting the valuable work carried out by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and awarded it a three year grant of £241,500 per year which began in 1991. In addition, the "Health of the Nation" gives a commitment to continued support to the leading role played by ASH in disseminating information, encouraging action by others and providing advice and support.
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals she has to increase awareness of the long-term effects of smoking during pregnancy on children.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Department is providing funding of £1 million over two years towards a Health Education Authority project being run specifically for this purpose. In addition, the "Health of the Nation" gives a commitment to achieve a target of a 30 per cent. reduction in the number of women who smoke at the start of their pregnancy by the year 2000.
Disability Legislation
Mrs. Dunwoody : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 which (a) have been implemented and (b) have not yet been implemented.
Mr. Yeo : The information requested is as follows :
a. Implemented on 1 April 1987
Section 4 (duty on local authorities to assess need)
Section 8(1) (duty to have regard to abilities of carers) Section 9 (provision of information)
Section 10 (duty to consult organisations of disabled people when making appointments)
Implemented on 1 February 1988
Sections 5 and 6 (identification and assessment of disabled school leavers)
Implemented on 18 December 1989
Section 11 (report to Parliament on community care for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people)
b. Non-implemented sections
Sections 1 and 2 (appointment and rights of authorised representatives of disabled people)
Section 3 (provision of written statements of assessment) Section 7 (identification and assessment of the needs of people leaving hospital after treatment for six months or more for a mental disorder)
Sections 8(2) and 8(3) (these are linked to section 3)
The requirements of the non-implemented sections are now, to a very large extent, reflected in our new and wide-ranging reforms of community care, which demonstrate our commitment to high quality care which is responsive to the needs and wishes of service users and carers. The need to implement these sections will be reviewed in the light of several years' experience of the community care arrangements.
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