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Pharmacies and Dispensaries
Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has had to modify application of the one-mile rule regarding general practitioner dispensaries, with special reference to taking account of local preferences. [8202]
Mr. Malone: The regulations governing dispensing by doctors are designed to safeguard the needs of patients and ensure, where possible, that patients enjoy access to the expert services of both the medical and pharmaceutical professions. I have received representations from both professions about the application of the rules and my hon. Friend wrote to me last year about taking into account local preferences.
Mr. Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he takes to be fully informed of the views of local residents when considering applications for new pharmacies, with special reference to the one-mile rule. [8203]
Mr. Malone: An application to provide pharmaceutical services under the national health service is considered by the family health services authority in whose locality the proposed pharmacy is situated. The FHSA must consult every relevant community health council about the views of local residents.
Meningitis
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what epidemiological investigations have been made into possible common factors relating to outbreaks, as published in the monitor MB2 series of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, of meningitis of (a) group B and (b) group C. [8196]
Mr. Horam: Investigation of outbreaks of meningococcal disease is the responsibility of the local consultant in communicable disease control in each health district. It is standard practice for the CCDC to look for links between cases, such as attendance at the same college, school or nursery. In some outbreaks, nose and/or throat swabs are taken from close contacts of cases before antibiotics are given. Where a high carriage rate of the organism causing the disease has been observed, this may be the reason for the outbreak. Highest carriage rates are typically seen in teenage children.
A number of studies have been carried out in the United Kingdom to determine factors associated with increased
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risk of meningococcal disease. In these studies three possible risk factors have been identified: passive smoking, close contact and recent influenza infection.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 20 December, Official Report, column 1212 if he will now take steps to monitor centrally (a) delays of admission of seriously ill patients to hospital as published definitions of delay, (b) the reasons for such delays and (c) the steps taken by district health authorities to prevent their repetition. [8185]
Mr. Horam:
No. We are, however, monitoring the performance of NHS trusts in meeting the patients charter standard for emergency admissions.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means the proposed children's services planning guidance in the order arising from section 17(4) of the Children Act 1989 will operate within the terms of paragraph 16 of the draft guidance to social services and education departments of local authorities requiring joint review, planning and co-ordination of all day care services for children under eight years of age. [8187]
Mr. Bowis:
The proposed order places no new requirement on local authorities in respect of day care services for children under eight. The guidance will encourage local authorities to have regard to the latest section 19 review when preparing or reviewing children's services plans.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be applied to day care centres and out-of-school child care facilities as described in the Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations, volume 2. [8195]
Mr. Bowis:
The Disability Discrimination Act is expected to apply to day care centres and out-of-school child care facilities in the same way that it applies to other facilities. This is currently subject to consultation.
Mr. Eastham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what code of standards applies to the Medical Devices Agency. [7790]
Mr. Horam:
The framework of policy, planning control, delegations and accountability within which the Medical Devices Agency operates is described in its framework document, copies of which are available in the Library.
Mr. Eastham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the recorded number of failures of infusion devices causing (a) fatal doses of medication or (b) incapacitating electrical shock, for each of the last five years. [7791]
Mr. Horam:
Over the last five years, there have been no fatalities reported to the Medical Devices Agency in
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which a failure of an infusion device caused a fatal dose of medication. One incident was reported involving an incapacitating electric shock.
Mr. Eastham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards govern the operation of foetal monitoring devices. [7793]
Mr. Horam:
There are no standards specifically governing the operation of foetal monitoring devices.
Mr. Eastham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated as to the extent to which ultrasonic equipment gives incorrect readings. [7792]
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 November, Official Report, column 614, on national health service staff if he will provide details of medical locums by specialty. [7753]
Mr. Malone:
The information is not available in the form requested. However, table 17A of the medical and dental manpower census, copies of which are available in the Library, shows directly employed locums in hospitals by specialty. This information excludes, for example, agency locums and public health and community health service locums. This latter information is not available centrally.
Mr. Milburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 12 December, Official Report, column 579, on medical and non-medical vacancies in the national health service, if he will provide a regional breakdown of figures. [7754]
Mr. Malone:
The regional breakdown of vacancy data is shown in the tables. Data on junior doctors and the regional breakdown of consultants for 1991 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| 1990 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 700 | 540 | 480 | 570 |
| Northern | 70 | 30 | 30 | 40 |
| Yorkshire | 40 | 50 | 30 | 40 |
| Trent | 70 | 80 | 50 | 70 |
| East Anglia | 20 | 20 | 10 | 30 |
| North-West Thames | 20 | 20 | 30 | 40 |
| North-East Thames | 70 | 50 | 80 | 50 |
| South-East Thames | 40 | 10 | 30 | 40 |
| South-West Thames | 70 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Wessex | 40 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Oxford | 20 | 0 | 20 | 10 |
| South Western | 60 | 40 | 30 | 30 |
| West Midlands | 110 | 110 | 70 | 100 |
| Mersey | 20 | 20 | 30 | 40 |
| North Western | 60 | 60 | 50 | 50 |
| Special Health Authorities | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. A regional breakdown for 1991 is available only at disproportionate cost.
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| Senior registrar | Registrar | Senior house officer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 230 | 230 | 70 |
| Northern | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Trent | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| East Anglia | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| North-West Thames | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| North-East Thames | 20 | 30 | 10 |
| South-East Thames | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| South-West Thames | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Wessex | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Oxford | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| South Western | 20 | 10 | 0 |
| West Midlands | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Mersey | 10 | 50 | 0 |
| North Western | 30 | 20 | 10 |
| Special Health Authorities | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Vacant post figures for house officers are not collected.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, therefore individual grades may not add up to the total.
| Senior registrar | Registrar | Senior house officer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 180 | 280 | 120 |
| Northern | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| Yorkshire | 30 | 50 | 10 |
| Trent | 20 | 30 | 10 |
| East Anglia | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| North-West Thames | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| North-East Thames | 20 | 40 | 20 |
| South-East Thames | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| South-West Thames | 10 | 20 | 20 |
| Wessex | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oxford | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Western | 20 | 30 | 10 |
| West Midlands | 40 | 20 | 10 |
| Mersey | 10 | 30 | 10 |
| North Western | 0 | 20 | 10 |
| Special Health Authorities | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Vacant post figures for house officers are not collected.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, therefore individual grades may not add up to the total.
| Senior registrar | Registrar | Senior house officer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 200 | 310 | 130 |
| Northern | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 30 | 10 |
| Trent | 40 | 50 | 10 |
| East Anglia | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| North-West Thames | 20 | 30 | 10 |
| North-East Thames | 20 | 40 | 20 |
| South-East Thames | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| South-West Thames | 10 | 20 | 0 |
| Wessex | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Oxford | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Western | 20 | 50 | 10 |
| West Midlands | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Mersey | 40 | 30 | 10 |
| North Western | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Special Health Authorities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vacant post figures for house officers are not collected.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, therefore individual grades may not add up to the total.
9 Jan 1996 : Column: 76
| Senior registrar | Registrar | Senior house officer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 200 | 280 | 170 |
| Northern | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Yorkshire | 20 | 20 | 10 |
| Trent | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| East Anglia | 30 | 10 | 10 |
| North-West Thames | 20 | 30 | 10 |
| North-East Thames | 20 | 40 | 30 |
| South-East Thames | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| South-West Thames | 10 | 20 | 20 |
| Wessex | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Oxford | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| South Western | 20 | 40 | 10 |
| West Midlands | 40 | 30 | 20 |
| Mersey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North Western | 10 | 30 | 10 |
| Special Health Authorities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Vacant post figures for house officers are not collected.
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, therefore individual grades may not add up to the total.
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