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Corticosteroids
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in respect of the adverse affects of corticosteroids; what plans he has to hold a public inquiry into their handling and use; and if he will make a statement. [4172]
Mr. Milburn: Correspondence has been received from members of Group Action into Steroid Prescribing, a group of people who have suffered adverse effects associated with corticosteroid treatment.
Corticosteroids have been fully evaluated for quality, efficacy and safety by the United Kingdom Licensing Authority. The product information including patient leaflets describes the effects of these medicines. It is for prescribing doctors to decide on the risks and benefits of treating individual patients according to their clinical judgment. Ensuring that patients are appropriately informed about the possible effects of drug treatment is a matter of concern and practice in this area is currently under consideration.
Rothbury Community Hospital
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the review of the private finance initiative in the NHS will entail delays in the design and tender process for the Rothbury community hospital. [4239]
Mr. Milburn:
The proposals for the redevelopment of hospital and community facilities in Rothbury are being considered in conjunction with a Private Finance Initiative scheme at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust involving the reorganisation of the trust's acute services. Under the review of PFI in the NHS all major acute hospital schemes currently testing for PFI will be prioritised. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 10 June 1997 at columns 427-28. In future all major acute capital projects--whether funded under the PFI or using public capital--will be prioritised in accordance with health service needs. These prioritisation exercises will not apply
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to small-scale acute schemes such as the project at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust and non-acute schemes such as that for Rothbury currently testing for PFI. Proposals for improving the procurement process under PFI for all types of schemes will be put forward in the near future.
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which dental practices the £40,000 allocated to Berkshire Health Authority in 1996-97 to improve access to NHS dentistry was allocated, to what other purposes the money was allocated and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the disbursements met the criteria set out in the health authority's bid. [5073]
Mr. Milburn:
Berkshire Health Authority was awarded £40,000 as extra funding under the National Health Service Dentistry Access Fund 1996-97. The funding is being used solely to meet the aims identified in the health authority's bid.
The practices receiving these funds are all based in the health authority area.
Mr. Hunter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the North and Mid Hampshire Health Authority has allocated to dental practices the grant which it received from the National Health Service Dentistry Access Fund; and how it has been distributed. [5255]
Mr. Milburn:
Yes. The funding is being used to meet the aims identified in the bid.
Ms Atherton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the £40,000 allocated to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority for dental practices has been distributed; and to what extent this distribution has reflected the criteria set out in the bid. [5489]
Mr. Milburn:
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority was awarded £40,000 as extra funding under the National Health Service Dentistry Access Fund 1996-97. The bid from the health authority met the criteria which were set out in the directions sent to all health authorities.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a review into the public health implications of community-led urban food growing projects in deprived areas; and if he will make a statement. [4888]
Ms Jowell:
In 1996, the National Food Alliance (NFA) and the Sustainable Agriculture Food and Environment (SAFE) Alliance published a report, Growing Food in Cities, which aimed to promote the benefits of urban agriculture in the United Kingdom. The report argued that increasing urban agriculture would yield a range of benefits including community development, economic development, education, environmental improvement, health, leisure and sustainable neighbourhoods.
The Government welcomes any initiatives such as local food growing projects which empower local communities and help them to address their own health needs. It recognises that in deprived urban areas in particular, food
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 619
growing projects can make an important contribution to improving not only the food supply but also quality of life.
The Department is currently funding the National Food Alliance and the Health Education Authority to produce a database of projects which aim to assist people on low incomes to eat more healthily. The database has already been launched nationally and will be fully operational later this year.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest estimate of the proportion of adverse reactions reported under the yellow card system. [4922]
Ms Jowell:
The proportion of all adverse reactions reported under the yellow card system is not known, as there is no means of knowing the total number of adverse drug reactions.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to discourage smoking (a) generally and (b) with particular reference to under 20-year-olds. [4987]
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets to reduce the prevalence of smoking among 11 to 15-year-olds. [5318]
Ms Jowell:
The Government's strategy on smoking will be set out in detail in a White Paper later this year. This Paper will reflect the deliberations of the summit of national and international experts in the field of smoking reduction to be held on 14 July.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 10 June, Official Report, column 425, if he will make a statement on the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who smoke. [4986]
Ms Jowell:
Smoking levels in this age group, particularly among young women, are a matter of serious concern. How best to influence the various age groups will be a topic for study at the summit of national and international experts in the field of smoking reduction to be held on 14 July.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to increase awareness among the public of the dangers of passive smoking. [5085]
Ms Jowell:
Reports published in this country by the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health (1988) and the Royal College of Physicians (1992) and by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1993) have set out the health risks associated with passive smoking.
The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health has been asked by the Chief Medical Officer to review the latest evidence and its report is expected later this year.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the costs to the national health service of the use of tobacco. [5172]
26 Jun 1997 : Column: 620
Ms Jowell:
Treatment costs to the National Health Service are not available on a year by year basis. Based on 1990 figures, the Health Education Authority's report "The Smoking Epidemic--A Prescription for Change", estimated that the annual cost to the NHS of treating smoking related diseases is £610 million.
Mr. Pond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the merits of recording incidents of (a) Erb's palsy and (b) brachial plexus injuries. [5009]
Ms Jowell:
Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries are, fortunately, rare occurrences. Most babies with Erb's palsy recover spontaneously within a few months. We will continue to support initiatives by the professional organisations which aim to minimise the risk of Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries. Professionals providing maternity care should monitor the incidence of such cases. The Government believes local monitoring is the best approach and the collection of information centrally would not assist in preventing occurrences.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use he plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5102]
Ms Jowell:
The Department continues to update and expand its web site. The site already includes extensive information about the Department's work and publications as well as a wide range of guidance for business on regulation. Some key publications, such as the NHS Performance Guide, the Chief Medical Officer's quarterly updates, and "The Health of the Nation" briefing pack, appear in full.
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