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Health Advice Telephone Lines
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what health advice services are offered by the NHS over the telephone; and what best practice the Department recommends on the use of health telephone lines to reduce pressure on general practitioners. [38016]
Mr. Horam: Health authorities have a responsibility to ensure that a freephone health information service is available to their local population. The service must be provided in line with health service guidance HSG(5)44, copies of which are available in the Library. Additionally, the Health Education Authority sometimes provides for helplines on health promotion issues in its campaigns.
Hospital Readmissions
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 7 June, Official Report, column 585, by what date the NHS executive has asked for returns about patients between 16 and 64 years (a) discharged within the previous 90 days and (b) re-admitted to hospital within 90 days of discharge to be provided; and when the information will be published. [38435]
Mr. Bowis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 18 July, Official Report, column 650.
Research Establishments
Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with prior options reviews of public sector research establishments which his Department sponsors. [38988]
Mr. Horam: As indicated by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade in his announcement of the timetable for prior options reviews on 26 January 1996, Official Report, columns 421-23, the outcome of the reviews of the National Radiological Protection Board, National Biological Standards Board, and the Public Health Laboratory Service are due to be reported to Ministers by December 1996.
Work is drawing to a close on the first of these reviews relating to the National Radiological Protection Board. Reviews of the National Biological Standards Board, and the Public Health Laboratory Service have recently commenced, and will be formally announced in the August edition of "Government Opportunities". Views are being invited from any interested parties, with a direct approach being made to key organisations and individuals.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the annual report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to be published. [39051]
Mr. Horam: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority will be publishing its fifth annual report on Monday 22 July. Copies of the report will be available in the Library on that day.
19 Jul 1996 : Column: 726
Operations (Waiting Times)
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) hip replacements, (b) hysterectomies, (c) cataract extractions, (d) tonsillectomies, (e) kidney transplants and (f) hernia operations were carried out by the NHS in England and Wales in each of the last three years; and what was the average waiting time for each operation in each year. [37496]
Mr. Horam: Figures for kidney transplants are set out in the table:
| Year | Number of kidney transplants performed in England |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 1,445 |
| 1993-94 | 1,401 |
| 1994-95 | 1,461 |
Source:
The United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority.
Waiting times for kidney transplants depend on the availability of suitably matched kidneys and information on average waiting times is not comparable with other waiting times available.
Questions relating to Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current average cost to the NHS of (a) a hip replacement, (b) a hysterectomy, (c) a cataract extraction, (d) a tonsillectomy, (e) a kidney transplant and (f) a hernia operation. [37499]
Mr. Horam:
This information is not available centrally.
Mr Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received open-heart surgery within (a) one month, (b) three months, (c) six months, (d) nine months, (e) 12 months (f) 15 months and (g) 18 months in the most recent year for which figures are available. [38042]
Mr. Horam:
Information on times waited for various cardiac procedures is given in "Hospital Episode Statistics, Volume 2". The latest year for which information has so far been published is 1993-94. Copies are available in the Library.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by charging procedure the costs for personal social services that were recouped through charging in the last year; and what proportion of personal DSS expenditure this entailed. [37996]
Mr. Bowis:
In 1993-94, the latest year for which information has been published, approximately 10 per cent. of gross current expenditure by local authorities on personal social services was recouped through fees and charges, including charges to clients. Data on amounts raised for each charging procedure are not held centrally.
19 Jul 1996 : Column: 727
Mr. Steen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the forms his Department issues annually to businesses to gather statistics, indicating the number of each distributed. [37813]
Mr. Horam:
The information requested in respect of forms for which the primary purpose is statistical is given in the table. This does not include administrative forms that can be used in preparation of statistics.
| Survey | Business type | Number of forms issued |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists' status--non associates | Dentists | 1,500 |
| Dentists' status--associates | Dentists | 10,500 |
| Discount inquiry | Pharmacies | 325 |
| Container cost inquiry | Pharmacies | 300 |
| Study of GP accounts | GPs/accountants | 700/100 |
| Sight tests volumes and manpower | Optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners | 1,400 |
South Manchester University Hospitals
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will urgently reconsider the question of access for the South Manchester community health council to the findings of the inquiry report of an investigation into the recent financial difficulties at South Manchester University Hospitals NHS trust; and if he will make a statement; [37879]
- (2) what representations he has had from the South Manchester community health council in relation to obtaining the findings of the inquiry report of an investigation into the recent financial difficulties at South Manchester University Hospitals NHS trust; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement; [37878]
(3) what fees have been and are being paid by South Manchester University Hospitals NHS trust to the Audit Commission; what role the Commission played in finding the financial accounting error that led to the trust's recent financial difficulties; what role was played by the trust's own audit; and if he will make a statement. [37881]
Mr. Horam: I responded on 9 July to a letter from the community health council, stating that the question of access is a matter for the trust itself to decide, taking legal advice into account. The Audit Commission played no part in discovering the recent financial error.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are currently waiting for open-heart surgery in each health region. [38041]
Mr. Horam: Waiting list information is collected on the basis of clinical specialities and not individual procedure level.
19 Jul 1996 : Column: 728
Nurses' Pay
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have received backdated pay awards following successful appeals against regrading decisions (a) eight, (b) seven, (c) six, (d) five, (e) four, (f) three and (g) two years late. [38459]
Mr. Malone: Almost all the 100,000 appeals against clinical regrading lodged in 1988 have now been resolved. Information held centrally does not record the time at which payments were made.
Ethnic Minority Staff
Ms Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of NHS trusts and health authorities have included in their business plan a local objective to increase the proportion of ethnic minority staff in areas and grades where they are under-represented within a specified time scale; [37095]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the progress made towards the eight goals set out in the NHS executive publication, "Ethnic Minority Staff in the NHS: a Programme of Action"; [37040]
(3) what guidelines for training for NHS employees he has issued relating to particular needs of members of ethnic minorities. [37028]
Mr. Malone [holding answer 12 July 1996]: It is for trusts and health authorities to implement the goals of "Ethnic Minority Staff in the NHS: a Programme of Action" locally, in accordance with advice issued by the national health service executive and as set out in the priorities and planning guidance, copies of which are available in the Library.
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