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Hospital Closures (Mental and Psychiatric Care)

37. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans Her Majesty's Government have to review the policy of the closure of the larger hospitals providing mental and psychiatric care; and if he will make a statement. [3505]

Mr. Boateng: We are concerned to ensure that a high standard of mental and psychiatric care is available to those who require it in an appropriate setting; planned closure of the larger hospitals will take place in that context as part of the development of a comprehensive mental health service offering a range of inpatient and community provision.

Hepatitis C

Mr. Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for compensation for haemophiliacs infected with Hepatitis C as a result of treatment by the national health service. [1905]

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to pay compensation to people infected with Hepatitis C contracted through blood transfusions in NHS hospitals. [3633]

Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received since 2 May with regard to people with haemophilia who have been infected with Hepatitis C via contaminated blood products; and what plans he has to review their claim for financial recompense. [4180]

Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his proposals to set up a hardship fund for the haemophiliacs who may have been infected with Hepatitis C through blood supplied by the national health service. [5125]

Ms Jowell: Since 2 May, in addition to these Parliamentary Questions, Ministers have received 19 letters on the subject of financial recompense for patients, both haemophiliacs and others, infected with hepatitis C through National Health Service treatment.

We have agreed to give this matter our most careful consideration.

Adoption

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the rule concerning the age of adopting parents as a criterion for approving overseas adoption; and how many and what proportion of applicants with a prospective parent over 60 years of age have been (a) approved and (b) rejected (i) in 1996-97 and (ii) in each of the last five years. [4234]

Mr. Boateng: The minimum age for prospective adopters in England and Wales is 21 years. There is no legal upper age limit. However, age is just one factor

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among many which must be taken into account when assessing the suitability of applicants. Figures on the acceptability of prospective adopters are not held centrally.

Radiotherapy

Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to compensate female patients who have suffered serious physical damage following post-operative radiotherapy to treat breast cancer; and if he will make a statement. [4836]

Ms Jowell: The Government have every sympathy with women who have suffered adverse side-effects as a consequence of radiotherapy treatment. However, it is a longstanding principle that compensation should be paid by the National Health Service only when there is evidence that negligence has been involved.

The following action has been taken to help women with damage as a result of radiotherapy for breast cancer:

In May 1994 the Department issued guidance entitled "Quality Assurance in Radiotherapy--A Quality Management System for Radiotherapy".
The Royal College of Radiologists at the Department's request, convened a small group of professionals and lay people in autumn 1994 to consider guidelines for care of women who have suffered tissue damage following radiotherapy for breast cancer. This report was issued to the NHS by the Department in October 1995.
The Royal College of Radiologists carried out a confidential clinical review of 126 women who had suffered injury following radiotherapy treatment for breast cancer at 15 centres in the period 1980-1993. The report makes recommendations on the management of breast cancer, particularly on radiotherapy, and for further research.

With regard to those suffering adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy for gynaecological cancers, in 1996, a Working Group, which includes representatives from a number of Royal Colleges, voluntary organisations and the Department, was set up to consider the preparation of patient information leaflets concerning possible adverse effects following pelvic radiotherapy and to raise awareness generally. A sub-group is also considering issuing guidelines for health professionals on the care of women suffering adverse effects as a result of pelvic radiotherapy.

Hernias

Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the use of homeopathy for the treatment of patients, before and after undergoing a surgical hernia operation; and if he will make a statement; [4781]

(2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of (i) a hernia and (ii) patients before and after undergoing a surgical hernia operation; and if he will make a statement; [4780]

(3) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on alternatives to surgery for the treatment of hernias; and if he will make a statement. [4725]

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Ms Jowell: We have not commissioned research, nor are we aware of any published studies, relating to alternative and complementary treatments in groin hernia surgery. The Department of Health does, however, support the Surgical Epidemiology and Audit Unit at the Royal College of Surgeons which is engaged in a systematic review of previous research literature on groin hernia surgery. Additionally, the Department of Health is supporting work by the Research Council for Complementary Medicine to develop clinical audit methodologies for use by practitioners of complementary medicine. This includes homeopathy, but is not related to the management of groin hernia.

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Mr. Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hernias have been diagnosed in each of the last 10 years, how many required surgery; and if he will make a statement. [4728]

Ms Jowell: We are unable to provide the information in the form requested. The information that is available is set out in the table. It shows those cases admitted to hospital where the primary diagnosis was hernia of the abdominal cavity and covers the years 1989-90 to 1994-95. We are unable to provide information about the number of patients who have their hernias diagnosed and/or treated outside National Health Service hospitals.

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Year	1989-90	1990-91	1991-92	1992-93	1993-94	1994-95
Finished Consultant episodes with primary diagnosis of hernia abdominal cavity	128,732	128,798	135,031	135,289	145,430	154,503
Finished Consultant episodes with primary diagnosis of hernia of abdominal cavity, where a hernia repair operation was performed	91,120	90,975	95,978	92,950	96,712	101,704

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

ICD 9 Diagnosis codes 550 to 553 and OPCS4R Operating codes T19 to T26.

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Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many practitioners of (i) alternative and (ii) complementary medicine (a) are registered in England currently, (b) were registered in 1992 and (c) were registered in 1987. [4596]

Ms Jowell: The information requested is not available. Some complementary and alternative medicine organisations maintain, on a voluntary basis, a register of their membership. It is not necessary for a practitioner to register with any organisation in order to practise.

When the Osteopaths Act 1993 and Chiropractors Act 1994 are fully implemented, statutory registers will exist for these two professions.

Drugs

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the total amount (a) spent and (b) allocated by his Department on tackling the problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (ii) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4796]

Ms Jowell: Information on total Government and individual departments' expenditure on tackling drug misuse is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recently available estimates were published in the White Paper "Tackling Drugs Together" in May 1995. They show that at least £526 million of expenditure in 1993-94 could be directly attributable to drug programmes and activities across the United Kingdom.

The Government will be appointing a "drug czar" to co-ordinate action against drugs, working to the President of the Council as Chair of the Cabinet's coordinating committee on drug misuse. One of his or her first tasks will be to review urgently the existing drugs strategy, and put forward proposals for tackling the problem with renewed vigour. This review will include current Government expenditure.

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