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GP Commissioning Groups
Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps health authority managers are taking to encourage general practitioner commissioning groups. [26793]
Mr. Malone: Health authorities are well aware of the need to involve all general practitioners in purchasing decisions for their patients. This was clearly set out in EL(94)79. It is restated as a medium-term priority in the priorities and planning guidance (EL(95)68), copies of which are available in the Library.
Dental Treatment
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients received free dental treatment in (a) 1990, (b) 1992 and (c) 1994; and if he will make a statement; [26978]
- (2) how many people were entitled to receive free dental treatment in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [26980]
Mr. Malone: All children are eligible for free dental treatment. Information is not available about the number of adults eligible to receive free dental treatment.
| Adults | Six months ending September 1990 | 1992-93 | 1994-95 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courses administered to adult patients eligible for free treatment | 2,029 | 5,653 | 5,621 |
Information is collected in terms of courses of treatment rather than patients. This table excludes courses for which there is no patient charge, including arrest of haemorrhage, and repairs and replacements under guarantee, administered to charge payers.
Information is not available for the whole of 1990. The introduction of the new contract in October 1990 affected information flows. Data have been provided for the six months, April to September.
Since October 1990 and the introduction of the new contract, children's dental treatment has largely been paid for by capitation payments. Records of individual treatments are not collected centrally. All treatment for children is free.
Drugs Campaign
Mr. Rathbone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research was undertaken during the preparation of the current Health Education Authority drugs campaign; and what measurement is being made of the campaign's efficiency; [27422]
- (2) how the subject drugs were chosen for inclusion in the Health Education Authority's current drug campaign. [27423]
Mr. Bowis: The Health Education Authority commissioned a survey of young people between 11 and 35 years old, which addressed prevalence, settings and attitudes to drug misuse to inform the content and tone of publicity campaigns, including what specific drugs or groups might be targeted. The summary research findings was published on 3 May. The effectiveness of the publicity campaigns will be evaluated and monitored by pre and post testing of each stage of the campaign and by further annual surveys of young people.
The drugs chosen for the Health Education Authority's current publicity campaign--ecstasy, LSD and speed--were those most commonly associated with young people and the "dance scene". The publicity campaign aims to inform both young people and parents about the health effects and risks of the drugs and is being promoted on the radio, in the youth press, and women's magazines.
Nursing Homes, Doncaster
Mr. Kevin Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many privately run and owned nursing homes are currently registered with the Doncaster health authority; and how many were registered in December 1979. [27432]
Mr. Bowis: There were 34 nursing homes registered with Doncaster district health authority in 1994-95. Information is not available centrally for years before 1993-94. All nursing homes are in the independent sector.
7 May 1996 : Column: 30
Mr. Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in privately run and owned nursing homes registered with the Doncaster health authority there are currently in the Doncaster metropolitan borough; and how many there were in December 1979. [27431]
Mr. Bowis: There were 966 nursing home beds registered with Doncaster district health authority within the boundaries of Doncaster metropolitan district in 1994-95. This information is not available centrally for years before 1993-94. All nursing homes are in the independent sector.
Drugs (Schools)
Mr. Rathbone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve distribution of up to date information about drugs to those involved in drugs misuse work in schools, social services, the Probation Service, the criminal justice system and elsewhere. [27421]
Mr. Bowis: The Department of Health has commissioned a report into the information needs of drug action teams, which will enable them to identify up-to-date information. It will also inform Department of Health work in developing an information strategy.
Drugs Helpline
Mr. Rathbone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many callers have made use of the national drugs helpline since its launch in 1995; how the calls have been classified; what information has been supplied to callers; and what measurements have been made of the success of the helpline. [27425]
Mr. Bowis: Between 1 April 1995 and 31 March 1996, the national drugs helpline answered 192,755 calls. They are classified by whether they are interactive or non-interactive-- whether advice or counselling is given--and by the profile of callers, which includes gender, age, location, ethnicity, language, misuser/non-misuser and the reason for the call.
The helpline operates a free 24 hours-a-day confidential service staffed by trained counsellors who provide callers with advice and counselling, information on drugs and solvents, and on local drug services. The helpline also distributes leaflets and literature about drugs and solvent misuse to callers on request.
The national drugs helpline is currently being evaluated by independent consultants. Their report on the Department is expected at the end of May.
The helpline number is 0800 77 66 00.
Mr. Redmond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collate centrally information for ambulance costs per mile for each ambulance authority; and if he will make a statement. [27615]
Mr. Horam:
I have no plans to do so.
7 May 1996 : Column: 31
Mrs. Bridget Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the square footage and cost of office space rented by his Department and its agencies and the number of his Department or agencies; buildings partly or fully unoccupied together with the square footage of that unoccupied office space and its estimated rental value where available in each of the past five financial years. [27727]
Mr. Horam:
From 1 April 1996, the Department of Health took on responsibility for its buildings from Property Holdings, including vacant space and the payment of rents. For 1996-97, this Department and its agencies will pay an estimated £9 million in rents on leased buildings totalling 775,000 sq ft for which it has now become responsible. Of this, 18,200 sq ft in two buildings is currently vacant at an annual rental cost of £325,000.
Prior to April 1996, the payment of rentals on leased buildings and for any vacant space were the responsibility of Property Holdings.
Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence his Department had evaluated (a) before and (b) since 1978 in respect of possible contamination of factor VIII with particular reference to non-hepatitis A and B. [27713]
Mr. Horam:
In 1978, it was known that there was a non-A, non-B hepatitis virus, but it had not yet been identified as the hepatitis C virus. At the time, there was no test for it or any way of eliminating it from blood products. However, people known to be at risk carrying non-A, non-B hepatitis were not accepted as blood donors. In 1985, heat treatment was introduced with a view to inactivating viruses that were known to be transmitted by factor VIII. In 1989, hepatitis C was identified. Clinical monitoring has not shown evidence of transmission of hepatitis C by factor VIII since this time. Currently used manufacturing procedures are effective in preventing transmission of hepatitis C. Since 1991, when reliable tests first became available, all blood donations in the United Kingdom have been tested for hepatitis C. In addition, since 1993 only batches of factor VIII derived from donations, whatever their sources, which have been screened and found negative for antibody to hepatitis C virus have been allowed to be placed on the market.
Mr. Pawsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial help is or is planned to be available for those who suffer from hepatitis C. [27714]
Mr. Horam:
A number of people have been infected with hepatitis C through blood or blood products. The Government have great sympathy with those infected with hepatitis C in this way, but, as no fault or negligence on the part of the national health service has been established, we have no plans to make special payments.
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