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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be responsible for alerting doctors and the medical services to test for carbon monoxide poisoning, after the introduction of competition in the domestic gas supply market. [2005]
Mr. Sackville: The chief medical officer will shortly be issuing a reminder that general practitioners should consider the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning when patients complain of certain symptoms. The medical profession will continue to be responsible for considering all possibilities when diagnosing illness in their patients.
Accident and Emergency League Tables
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish in the next edition of the accident and emergency league tables the number of patients left on trolleys for more than two hours in each NHS trust. [1798]
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Mr. Malone: The current patients charter standard is that patients admitted to hospital through accident and emergency departments should be given a bed as soon as possible and certainly within three to four hours. This standard will be tightened to two hours from 1 April 1996.
The next set of NHS performance tables will cover NHS performance to 31 March 1996.
"Employer's Guide to Stress"
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of the document commissioned by his Department entitled "Employers' Guide to Stress"; how many copies were printed; and what has happened to them. [2078]
Mr. Bowis: The Department commissioned a document for internal use. The cost to the Department of this was £1,500. Subsequently, the Department has agreed that a priced version of this may be published independently of the Department by HMSO. It will be published in due course.
Asthma
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of preventable deaths from asthma. [2227]
Mr. Sackville: We do not have the information centrally on which to base such an assessment. It is important that people with asthma should discuss with their general practitioner or an asthma nurse what their individual trigger factors are and how to avoid them, and what practical steps and medicines they may take to control their symptoms.
NHS Hospital Doctors
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of hospital (a) consultants and (b) doctors who have left the national health service (i) through taking early retirement or (ii) for other voluntary reasons in each year since 1991. [2281]
Mr. Malone: This information is not available centrally.
GP Fundholding
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to require general practitioner fundholders to inform their patients of the hospital with whom they have contracted for in-patient services. [2238]
Mr. Malone: General practitioner fundholders are already expected to make available to patients at the practice, key information which relates to the management of their fund, including major shifts in purchasing intentions and annual practice plans. The requirement is set out in the "Accountability Framework
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 601
for GP Fundholding", published in April 1995, copies of which are available in the Library.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed as suffering from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the last 24 months; how many people so diagnosed had previously received growth hormone treatment; and if he will make a statement. [2312]
Mr. Sackville: Between 24 November 1993 and 24 November 1995, there have been 89 definite and probable cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Of these, six had previously received growth hormone treatment.
Executive Agencies (Travel)
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of his executive agencies for the last financial year in respect of overseas travel by staff of the agency (a) the cost, (b) the countries visited and (c) the posts held by the staff involved. [2364]
Mr. Sackville: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Lowestoft Hospital
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement regarding Suffolk health authority's proposal to close 30 continuing care beds at Lowestoft hospital; [2094]
(2) what representations he has received from (a) members of the local community and (b) medical professionals regarding Suffolk health authority's proposal to close 30 continuing care beds at Lowestoft hospital; [2095]
(3) what assessment he has made of the impact of Suffolk health authority's proposal to close 30 continuing care beds at Lowestoft hospital on local continuing care facilities; what alternative provision for continuing care in the area has been proposed; and if he can make a statement. [2096]
Mr. Bowis: This is a matter for Suffolk health authority, which is currently conducting public consultations on the proposal.
Men's Health
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new steps he is taking to improve standards of health among men. [2129]
Mr. Sackville: Departmental activity to improve men's health continues through the strategy of "The Health of the Nation", which places an important focus on men's health in emphasising the reduction of avoidable illness and premature death.
Men's health was discussed in the report of the sub-group of the chief medical officer's health of the nation working group--"Variations in Health: What Can the Department of Health and the NHS Do?"
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 602
The Department is also contributing to raising awareness of testicular cancer and carrying out research into prostate cancer.
Mr. Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion administration costs form in the overall budget of the QMC, Nottingham; and what is the equivalent figure for other hospitals in the United Kingdom. [2106]
Mr. Sackville:
This information is not centrally available.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Sectretary of State for Health what reason the chief executive of Manchester FHSA gave for resigning from it; and what was his age at the time of his resignation. [2236]
Mr. Malone:
This is a matter for Manchester family health services authority.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS trust executive directors received annual salaries of more than (a) £90,000 and (b) 100,000 in each financial year since 1992-93; [3117]
(2) how many NHS trust executive directors received annual salaries of more than £100,000 in the years 1992-93 to 1994-95. [3105]
Mr. Malone:
This information is not available centrally.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers the Audit Commission has to carry out investigations into the reasons for and costs of the early retirements of chief executives at NHS authorities and trusts. [3115]
Mr. Sackville:
The Audit Commission and its appointed auditors have powers to examine all areas of expenditure incurred by health authorities and trusts.
Ms Harman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of hospital beds in each year since 1988-89; [3118]
(2) what was the number of total available NHS acute hopsital beds in each year between 1988-89 and 1994-95. [3104]
Mr. Sackville:
The information requested is published annually in "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.
28 Nov 1995 : Column: 603
Mrs. Maddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual number of unconsenting medical examinations on female patients; and if he will make a statement. [450]
Mr. Sackville:
All patients with the capacity to do so have a common law right to consent or otherwise before undergoing a medical examination or treatment. Exceptions are where examination or treatment is required for a life-saving procedure and the patient is unable to indicate her wishes; where there are statutory powers requiring examination of a patient; or where the patient is detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and treatment is for mental disorder. If an adult does not have the capacity to consent, medical examination and treatment can still be given if they are in her best interests but must be confined to what is necessary to preserve life, health or well-being. A court can also make orders in respect of the treatment of adults incapable of consenting.
Information about medical examinations falling into these categories is not available.
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