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(i) bringing the IBM 3090 computer into use on the basis of independent advice, and the disposal of surplus computing equipment ;
(ii) an investigation of payments made to some contractors ; (
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(iii) an investigation of allegations of fraud ;(iv) a review of IT contracts and the procedures used to negotiate them ;
(v) the creation of an IT directorate and the provision of effective contract management ;
(vi) a comprehensive review and overhaul of all financial systems. Standing Orders have been revised ;
(vii) legal action to recover amounts overpaid to contractors ; (
(viii) seeking competitive tenders and letting contracts for the provision of computing services on the basis of independent advice ; (
(ix) a move away from central control of IT towards a more client orientated/partnership approach ;
(x) the commissioning and implementation of new procedures for the control and letting of contracts together with improved monitoring procedures ;
(xi) rationalisation of future computer usage ; and
(xii) improvements in the standard and style of reporting on all major issues to all members of the WRHA.
This action is reported and commended in the district auditor's report.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will publish the confidential district auditor's report on the Wessex regional health authority RISP project ;
(2) what plans she has to publish the district auditor's report on Wessex regional health authority ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The district auditor undertook an investigation of the RISP computer project at the invitation of the Wessex RHA's regional general manager. A report in the public interest was published on 24 July 1992.
The publication of any additional confidential material is entirely a matter for the RHA. As the district auditor made clear in his statement of 4 February 1993. the information he provided, outside of the report in the public interest, if published, may prejudice police inquiries and civil proceedings.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 December, Official Report, column 46, to whom in the Wessex regional health authority advice was given regarding the inclusion of penalty and performance targets in the contract between the RHA and Wessex Integrated Systems ; what reply was received ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : Advice on contractual matters was given to the then regional general manager, who indicated that the regional health authority would consider the Department's advice when reviewing the contract between the RHA and WIS.
Mr. Denham : To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 14 December, Official Report, column 46, to what extent action taken by Wessex regional health authority officials regarding the inclusion of penalty and performance contracts in the regional health authority's contract with WIS was in accordance with her Department's advice.
Mr. Sackville : Detailed information about the contract entered into by the Wessex regional health authority with WIS is entirely a matter for the RHA.
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve the management of Wessex regional health authority ; and if she will make a statement.
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Mr. Sackville : The national health service in Wessex delivers a good service to patients in the region and I am confident that management in the regional health authority is discharging its role properly.
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what instructions have been given to senior staff at Wessex regional health authority about discussing losses on computer contracts with the press and hon. Members.
Drugs Advisory Committee
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the representations there have been from pharmaceutical manufacturers regarding the new posts on the advisory committee on NHS drugs.
Dr. Mawhinney : The Director of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 11 December on this matter. A reply was sent on 25 January.
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria appointees to the advisory committee on NHS drugs have to meet.
Dr. Mawhinney : Members are appointed to the advisory committee on national health service drugs on the basis of their professional expertise and experience in relevant areas, following consultation with appropriate professional bodies.
Chemical Entity Products
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those new chemical entity products that were made available to the NHS since 1985 that would have been covered by the areas on the original selected list.
Dr. Mawhinney : The United Kingdom licensing authority has no information as to whether products have been made available to the national health service. Product licences for the following new chemical entities have been granted by the United Kingdom licensing authority since 1985 in the therapeutic categories originally covered by the selected list scheme.
Therapeutic category |Product name |Drug name ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Indigestion remedy |Prepulsid |Cisapride Laxative |Importal |Lactitol Monohydrate Vitamin |Elcarn |L-carnitine
Mrs. Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those new chemical entity products covered by the areas on the new selected list that have been made available to the NHS.
Dr. Mawhinney : The United Kingdom licensing authority has no information as to whether products have been made available to the national health service. Product licences for the following new chemical entities have been granted by the United Kingdom licensing authority in the therapeutic categories to which the selected list scheme has recently been extended.
Therapeutic category |Product Name |Drug Name
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anti-Diarrhoea |lImodium |Loperamide
Allergic Disorders |Zirtex |Cetirizine
|Semprex |Acrivastine
|Tavegil |Clemastine
|Tinset |Oxatomide
|Hismanal |Astemizole
|Triludan |Terfenadine
Hypnotics and Anxiolytics |Rohypnol |Fluntrazepam
|Lexotan |Bromazepam
|Xanax |Alprazolam
|Noctamid |Lormetazepam
|Zimovane |Zopiclone
|Buspar |Buspirone
|Frisium |Clobazam
|Loprazolam |Loprazolam
Appetite Suppressants |Adifax |Dexfenfluramine
Vaginal and Vulval
conditions |Gyno-Pevaryl |Econazone
|Gestodene and
Contraceptives |Femodene |Ethinyloestradiol
|Norgestimate and
|Cilest |Ethinyloestradiol
|Levo Norgestrel and
|Ovran |Ethinyloestradiol
|Norethisterone
|Noristerat |Enanhate
|Marvelon |Desogestrel and Ethinyloestradiol
Drugs used in Anaemia |Eprex |Epoetin
Topical Antirheumatics |Difflam |Benzydamine
Drugs acting on the Ear |Urea Hydrogen
and Nose |Exterol |Peroxide
|Syntaris |Flunisolide
|Flixonase |Fluticasone
|Rhinolast |Azelastine
Drugs Acting on the Skin |Retin A |Tretinoin
|Visderm |Amcinonide
|Daktarin |Miconazole
|Sulcosyn |Sulconazole
|Decoderm |Fluprednidene
|Iodosorb |Cadexomer Iodine
|Bactroban |Mupirocin
|Exelderm |Succonazole
|Modrasone |Alclometasone
|Mycospor |Bifonazole
|Epogam |Gamolenic Acid
|Lyclear |Permethrin
|Loceryl |Amorolfone
|Neotigason |Acitratin
|Dovonex |Calcipotriol
|Travase |Sutilaine
|Lamisil |Terbinafine
|Dermovate |Clobetasol
|Eumovate |Clobetasone
|Debrisan |Dextranomer
|Tigason |Etretinate
|Roaccutane |Isotretinoin
|Halciderm |Halcinonide
|Trosyl |Ticonazole
|Exoderil |Naftifine
|Skinoren |Azelaic Acid
|Lithium Succinate
|Efalith |and Zinc Sulphate
|Elocon |Mometasone
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Community Care Support Force
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his reply of 2 February, if he will list those local health authorities that have invited the assistance of the community care support force.
Mr. Yeo : The community care support force has visited 27 local authorities. It is not appropriate to list these authorities by name.
Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the level of capital expenditure on the new ward block at the Royal Victoria infirmary, Newcastle after the completion of the initial contract in July 1991 ;
(2) when she expects the obstetrics and gynaecology wards to open at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary Trust new ward block ; and what further additional capital cost will be involved ;
(3) pursuant to her answer of 2 February, col. 155 , if she will list the value and purpose of the additional contracts, capital spending or post- contract variations at the Newcastle Royal Victoria infirmary's new ward block.
Mr. Sackville : The post-contract modifications to implement the decision to amalgamate obstetrics and gynaecology at the new ward block, are expected to cost £6.2 million. The gynaecological ward will open on schedule on 29 March 1993, and the obstetric ward is planned to open on 8 November 1993. Additionally, the antenatal clinic on the site is expected to cost £2.1 million and is also planned to open on 8 November 1993. No additional capital costs are anticipated.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the original estimated capital cost for the unified ophthalmology service at the Royal Victoria infirmary, Newcastle when selected by her for special funding ; when this estimated cost was submitted ; and what the cost is now.
Dr. Mawhinney : The estimated capital cost of unifying ophthalmology services at the Royal Victoria Infirmary when the scheme was submitted to the Secretary of State on 2 May 1992 was £7.6 million. The final cost should be contained within this sum.
Mr. Cousins : To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the ward and other facilities for kidney treatment in-patients to open at the Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary Trust new ward block ; and what further additional capital cost will be involved.
Mr. Sackville : Ward 36 for renal medicine and transplant services was opened as planned on 5 January 1993. Ward 37, for dialysis of both in- patients and out-patients is open and in partial use. No further capital costs will be incurred in commissioning these facilities.
Hepatitis B Vaccination
Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review her Department's guidelines on the screening and vaccination of health care workers in relation to the hepatitis B virus.
Mr. Sackville : The 1992 edition of "Immunisation against Infectious Disease", issued to all doctors and to
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other health professionals with immunisation responsibilities, contains advice on immunisation against hepatitis B for risk groups, including health care personnel.The advisory group on hepatitis, which advises United Kingdom health departments, has produced revised guidelines designed to prevent transmission of hepatitis B from health care workers. These have gone out to consultation with professional bodies and the national health service, and they should be available for distribution later this year.
Dental Services
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many family health service authorities have used their capital reserves to maintain dental services since July 1992 ; and how much they are spending from the reserves.
Dr. Mawhinney : I have no reason to believe that any family health service authority is using capital reserve funds for this purpose.
Computerisation
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review the computerisation of each region of the national health service ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : There is no specific plan to review computerisation of each region of the national health service. There is a national strategic framework for the development of information management and technology which contains major computing elements.
Individual regions will make plans within that strategy and the NHS management executive will monitor the approach of each region against nationally defined standards.
Juveniles (Secure Accommodation)
Mr. Tipping : To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date she asked local authorities to bid for the available capital funds to provide secure accommodation for juvenile offenders ; and if she will place a copy of the invitation in the Library.
Mr. Yeo : Following the national steering group's assessment of demand for an additional 60-65 places
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nationally, last summer, local authorities were approached collectively and individually to consider how they would respond to meet the national steering group's assessment.Regional Health Authority Services
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to review the contracting out of services undertaken by each regional health authority ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : The White Paper "Competing for Quality" published in November 1991 set out the case for the use of market testing procedures to test the quality and cost effectiveness of services in central Government and the national health service.
Revised guidance on market testing will be published shortly. Regional health authorities will be asked to follow the guidance where they undertake market testing of their own headquarters and other services.
District Health Authorities
Mr. Blunkett : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many district health authorities have used their reserves in the last quarter of the financial year 1992-93 or have plans to use their reserves, and by what amount ; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Sackville : This information is not collected centrally.
Oral Contraceptives
Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the effects of high doses of hormones on women taking oral contraceptives.
Mr. Sackville [holding answer 8 February 1993] : Oral contraceptives containing high doses of hormones are more likely than low- dose preparations to cause side-effects. The most serious side-effects include high blood pressure, thrombosis and thromboembolism involving the heart and lungs, but occur rarely in women without predisposing factors. To minimise side-effects doctors are advised to use the lowest effective dose and the use of oral contraceptives in those with significant predisposing factors for cardiovascular disease is discouraged.
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