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Ashworth Hospital
Ms Jowell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the date of the report which was made by the suspended chief executive of Ashworth hospital into her investigation of the allegations made by Stephen Daggett; when it was sent to the chair and chief executive of the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board; and what action was taken on that report. [16923]
Mr. Burns: The chief executive of Ashworth hospital wrote to the chief executive of the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board on 5 February 1997.
The action taken subsequently is covered in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's statement to the House of 10 February 1997, Official Report, columns 21-30.
Ms Jowell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the grounds for the suspension of the chief executive of Ashworth hospital; and what ministerial involvement there was in the decision. [16924]
24 Feb 1997 : Column: 71
Mr. Burns:
The decision to suspend the chief executive of Ashworth hospital by the chairman of Ashworth Hospital Authority followed serious allegations concerning the personality disorder unit at Ashworth hospital.
Ms Jowell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults on nurses in accident and emergency departments have been reported in each year since 1992. [16927]
Mr. Horam:
This information is not collected centrally.
Ms Jowell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many health authorities have extended maximum waiting times from 12 to 18 months; [16926]
Mr. Horam:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the incidence of stroke and the priority which his Department attaches to addressing this condition. [17094]
Mr. Horam:
The Government are clearly committed to reducing the incidence of stroke and stroke mortality. "The Health of the Nation" strategy includes specific targets to reduce deaths from stroke by 40 per cent. by the year 2000. Since the strategy was launched in 1992, death rates have fallen by 14.3 per cent. in the 65 to 74s and by 8.5 per cent. in the under-65s. Data on the precise incidence of stroke is not collected centrally.
Efforts to achieve the targets are supported by a number of high profile campaigns, for example, promoting physical activity, sensible drinking and encouraging people to stop smoking. The National Health Service Executive has also produced recommendations on the provision of rehabilitation services for stroke patients which have been distributed to all local health authorities. Copies of this document, "Effective Health Care--Stroke Rehabilitation", March 1992, have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning measures to improve the prevention, treatment and care of stroke; and if he will make a statement. [17092]
Mr. Horam:
We received a copy of "Stroke: National Tragedy, National Priority--An Agenda for action in stroke prevention, treatment and care" produced by the Stroke Association when I spoke at the launch of the document on 13 February. We are sure that local health authorities will find the document useful when discussing
24 Feb 1997 : Column: 72
the commissioning of health services for their areas for people who have had a stroke.
Physical inactivity is a major cause of ill health, including stroke. In particular, physically inactive people have up to three times the risk of stroke than active people. The Government are addressing this concern through a major three-year physical activity campaign called "Active for Life". The campaign, which is administered by the Health Education Authority at a total cost of £9 million, informs people of the significance of maintaining 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on at least five times a week as a means of reducing the risk of stroke.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply that the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns), gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 17 February 1997, Official Report, column 381 about the treatment and care of people who have had a stroke.
Mr. Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is Department is (a) currently funding and (b) evaluating into the effect on the incidence of stroke of salt levels in bread and other common foodstuffs; and if he will make a statement. [17093]
Mr. Horam:
The Department of Health has not commissioned and is not evaluating research into the effect on the incidence of stroke of salt levels in bread and other common foodstuffs.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the Chief Medical Officer to discuss with the faculty of public health medicine the possibility of convening a seminar to assess the evidence of linkage between sodium, blood pressure and stroke and to identify feasible research to clarify inconsistencies in the existing evidence.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what statistics he has collated on changes in the average aggregate prescribing of antibiotics in each of the past five years. [16997]
Mr. Malone:
The available information is shown in the table.
(2) how many people admitted to hospital as emergencies during 1995 and 1996 were already on hospital waiting lists for elective treatments. [16928]
| Year | Prescription items (millions) | Annual percentage change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 43.7 | -- |
| 1992 | 43.4 | -1 |
| 1993 | 47.7 | 10 |
| 1994 | 45.8 | -4 |
| 1995 | 49.4 | 8 |
Notes:
1. Antibiotics are those preparations in the British National Formulary, issue 28, September 1994, therapeutic group 5.1--antibacterial drugs.
2. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.
24 Feb 1997 : Column: 73
Overdoses
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of overdoses of over-the-counter drugs which have occurred in those aged (a) under 16 years and (b) over 16 years in each of the last five years; how many and what percentage resulted in death; and if he will make a statement. [17151]
Mr. Burns: The information requested is not held centrally.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of (a) sporadic, (b) iatrogenic, (c) familial, (d) Gerst-Straussler syndrome and (e) new variant CJD have been recorded in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [17152]
Mr. Horam: Updated figures of deaths in definite and probably cases of all types of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are published monthly by the Department of Health.
Copies of the latest press release dated 3 February 1997 have been placed in the Library.
Since the figures were published, a further case of nvCJD has been diagnosed in a patient who is still alive.
Mr. Ainger:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's estimate of the number of working days lost in the health service as a result of stress-related illness in each of the past 10 years. [17469]
Mr. Malone:
This information is not available centrally.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with the medical profession in relation to the inclusion in the contract for general practitioners of the vaccination of specified target groups against influenza. [17447]
Mr. Horam:
We have had no recent representations from the medical profession on this issue. General practitioners already immunise at risk groups against influenza as part of the general medical services.
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what pilot projects he has instituted into the efficacy of mass influenza vaccination of target groups in terms of reduced incidence of (a) influenza and (b) complications arising from influenza; [17445]
Mr. Horam:
The number of doses of influenza vaccine supplied to general practitioners and health authorities in England and Wales are as follows:
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(2) if he will give figures for the use of influenza vaccine in each of the past five years; what guidelines he has issued in relation to the specifying of target groups for influenza vaccinations; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of these targets; and if he will make a statement. [17446]
| Year | Doses |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 4,678,000 |
| 1993-94 | 5,692,000 |
| 1994-95 | 6,114,000 |
| 1995-96 | 5,964,000 |
| 1996-97 | (25)6,226,000 |
(25) Provisional.
Broadly, influenza immunisation is recommended for people with underlying diseases which put them at risk of serious illness should they develop influenza. This includes people with chronic respiratory disease such as chronic bronchitis and asthma, chronic heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes and diseases or treatment which suppress the immune system. Immunisation is also recommended for all people in long-term residential care, where influenza can spread very rapidly and cause great disruption.
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