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Oral Contraceptives
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the consideration of issues relating to third generation oral contraceptives prior to the decision taken on 16 October 1995. [20057]
Mr. Malone: I refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made in the House on 23 October 1995 at columns 701-11.
Mr. Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes have been made in the (a) data sheets and (b) summary of product characteristics of third generation oral contraceptives on the advice of the Committee on Safety of Medicines. [20059]
North Staffordshire Trauma Centre
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral statement of 6 March, Official Report, columns 356-68, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the North Staffordshire trauma centre; and if he will ensure continued funding for the centre. [20188]
Mr. Horam: We published on 6 March a report of a Sheffield university research study on the cost-effectiveness of the regional trauma centre in the north-west midlands.
The continued funding of the North Staffordshire trauma centre is a matter for local health authorities.
Hydrotherapy Pools
Sir Colin Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he is giving to health authorities and those involved with the design of acute hospitals in respect of the provision of hydrotherapy pools. [20323]
Mr. Horam: NHS Estates has issued, to NHS trusts and health authorities, health building note 8 "Rehabilitation--accommodation for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy" (1991) which includes details of the requirements for hydrotherapy suites. Technical advice is given in health technical memoranda 2027 (HTM)--"Operational management--Hot and cold water supply, storage and mains services" (1995); and HTM 2040 "Design considerations and operational management--the control of legionellae in healthcare premises--a code or practice" (1994).
Copies of the documents will be placed in the Library.
14 Mar 1996 : Column: 753
Sir Ivan Lawrence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the fluoridation of London's drinking water supply. [20390]
Mr. Malone:
Fluoridation of water supplies is a matter for local decision.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the national health service executive is taking in respect of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales paper on the community health council review process; when it was submitted to the NHS executive; and if he will make a statement. [20604]
Mr. Malone:
The national health service executive received details of the Association of Community Health Councils views on how the CHC review process might work and the appropriate relationship with regional offices, under cover of a letter dated 11 January 1996. The NHS executive is considering the views expressed by the association.
Mr. McLeish:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if there is a list of approved contractors dealing with medical waste from hospitals. [20768]
Mr. Horam:
There is not a central list of approved contractors for disposal of clinical waste. It is for each national health service trust or contracting authority to satisfy itself, prior to any invitation to tender, that those invited to bid have the capability to meet the required technical, financial and quality performance standards.
Mr. McLeish:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on how many occasions in the past five years letters have been sent by the National Health Service Estates agency to NHS hospital trusts about medical waste management; [20789]
(3) if he will publish the guidelines for the disposal of medical waste form (a) hospitals, (b) nursing homes, (c) mortuaries, (d) doctors' surgeries and (e) veterinary surgeries. [20759]
Mr. Horam:
The National Health Service Estates agency has issued five guidance documents and two estates policy letters to the NHS in the past five years. They relate to NHS bodies obligations under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and their duty of care in relation to the disposal of clinical waste. These are specifically aimed at hospitals and primary care services. The NHS Estates agency is not responsible for issuing guidance to private nursing homes or veterinary surgeries.
As waste producers, NHS bodies' are bound to ensure that waste is disposed of safely and properly. Enforcement of the Act is, however, the responsibility of the local environmental health department. The NHS Estates agency does not have responsibility for reviewing procedures.
14 Mar 1996 : Column: 754
The guidance documents are:
Copies of the guidance will be placed in the Library shortly.
Mr. McLeish:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the tendering procedures for the disposal of medical waste from hospitals. [20791]
Mr. Horam:
Tendering procedures for the disposal of clinical waste from hospitals should be in accordance with the Public Services Contract Regulations 1993 (SI 1993/3228) and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. In addition, the National Health Service Estates agency has issued guidance on medical waste management.
Mr. Jamieson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what communications he has received from Plymouth Hospitals NHS trust regarding the elderly patient who fell to his death at Derriford hospital, Plymouth, on 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [20599]
Mr. Horam:
We have received no communication from Derriford hospital about this matter. I understand that the trust is holding a full inquiry. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Vernon Seccombe, JP, chairman of Plymouth Hospitals NHS trust, for further information.
Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the local authority social services departments that make charges for aids for elderly and disabled people. [20757]
Mr Bowis:
Information reported by authorities shows that some two thirds of social services departments in England gained no income from fees or charges in relation to adaptations to homes or the provision of disability equipment for elderly or physically or sensorily disabled people in the financial year 1993-94. Specific information about individual authorities' charges are not available centrally.
Dr. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which are subject to (a) investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner, (b) scrutiny by the Audit Commission, (c) scrutiny by the National Audit Office, (d) statutory provisions for open government, (e) performance indicators and (f) provisions under the citizens charter. [16013]
14 Mar 1996 : Column: 755
Mr. Horam
[pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1996, c. 289]: I regret that my previous answer contained incorrect information relating to the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting; the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work; the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority; and the Medical Practices Committee. The revised reply is as follows:
(2) what reviews of waste management procedures the National Health Service Estates agency has asked each NHS hospital trust to undertake; [20790]
The estates policy letters, EPL(92)8 and EPL(95)33 reminded the NHS of the previous guidance.
Health Guidance Note--Clinical Waste Incineration Joint Venture Arrangements (March 1995);
Health Guidance Note--Safe Disposal of Clinical Waste Whole Hospital Policy (April 1995);
Strategic Guide for Waste Management (March 1991);
Strategic Guide to Clinical Waste Management (January 1994);
Health Service Guidelines HSG(94)50 Clinical Waste Management (December 1994).
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