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Hepatitis C
Mrs. Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that counselling is available for those who contracted hepatitis C, other than by means of blood transfusions. [5667]
Ms Jowell: As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health said in his reply of 19 June 1997, column 291, patients who may be infected with hepatitis C should be given sufficient information to enable them to make an informed decision about the implications for them of a positive test before being tested. Generally we would expect that the health care professionals dealing with the patient should be able to provide the advice and support that the patient needs. A few may require more specialist counselling and support. Patients who have a positive test should, if they wish, be referred to a specialist for further advice on the management of their disease, including more specialised counselling. It is for those commissioning services to ensure that suitably trained staff are available to advise such patients irrespective of how they were infected.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department gives on the circumstances in which it is appropriate for health authorities or trusts to engage outside advisers or consultants in the preparation of PFI proposals; and if he will make a statement. [5815]
Mr. Milburn:
Guidance on the appointment of external consultants and advisers is given in the "National Health Service Capital Investment Manual" (HSG(94)31 published in 1994) in the sections "Business Case Guide" and "Management of Construction Projects". The "Guide to Procedures for the Commissioning of Building and Engineering Consultants" issued as part of "Concode" (published 1983) also gives advice. Advice is also
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available in "5 Steps to the Appointment of Advisers to PFI Projects" (published May 1996) which was issued by the private finance panel.
We will be examining the use of external advisors in our review of PFI.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the report into the deaths at Elmstead House, Hendon, will be published. [5663]
Mr. Milburn:
We understand that Barnet health authority currently expects the report of the review panel to be published in late July or early August this year.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of self employed status for national health service (i) general practitioners, (ii) pharmacists, (iii) dentists and (iv) opticians. [5660]
Mr. Milburn:
Self-employment has both advantages and disadvantages for both the national health service and the contractors concerned, who will take these into account when making decisions on how best to pursue their professions.
The national health service already directly employs doctors, dentists, pharmacists and optometrists in the hospital and community health sectors.
The national health service Acts currently require health authorities to arrange for the provision of primary care, generally through independent contractors. Pilots that may be introduced under the NHS (Primary Care) Act 1997 could extend to doctors and dentists options for salaried service in this sector.
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received further advice from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee on the scientific evidence on the possibility of a link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. [6573]
Mr. Dobson:
The Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) considered this issue at its meeting on 23 May 1997 and has since produced a statement entitled, "Research Into The Link Between BSE and nvCJD" (SEAC, June 1997). The statement summarises the key research results on the question of whether there is a causal link between bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD) which have emerged since March 1996 when SEAC first concluded that the most likely explanation for the cases of the new variant CJD was exposure to BSE before the introduction of the Spongiform Bovine Offals ban in 1989. The statement concludes that the evidence that has accumulated since the March 1996 announcement is consistent with the hypothesis that nvCJD is caused by exposure to the BSE agent, and that no evidence refuting the hypothesis that nvCJD is caused by exposure to the BSE agent, and that
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no evidence refuting the hypothesis has yet come to light. However, SEAC regard the evidence to date as insufficient to constitute formal scientific proof of a causative link, and that further data are required before a firm conclusion can be reached. A copy of the statement has been placed in the Library.
Ms Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received (a) during the consultation process and (b) subsequently from medical consultees on the clinical implications of proposals to remove blood processing and testing from the Liverpool blood centre. [5653]
Mr. Boateng:
The consultation process relating to the plans for the reorganisation of the National Blood Service took place in 1994-95. Separate records were not kept on the make-up of those commenting. Since 1 May 1997, one clinician has written with views on the proposed changes at the Liverpool blood centre.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the geographical area for hospitals within the London review; and on what basis that area was determined. [5715]
Mr. Milburn:
The review covers services provided within the area of Greater London.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the towns of residence of each of the non-executive directors of the Basildon and Thurrock hospital trust; [5710]
Mr. Milburn:
The information requested is provided in the table:
(2) what are the termination dates of the contracts for the existing non-executive directors of the Basildon and Thurrock hospital trust; and when he expects advertisements will be published inviting applications to fill the next vacancies that occur. [5711]
| Post town | Appointment dates | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||
| Chairman | |||
| Mr. Ian Macpherson | Ingatestone | 1 December 1993 | 30 November 1997 |
| Non-executive directors | |||
| Mr. Derek Harman | Benfleet | 1 December 1995 | 30 November 1997 |
| Mrs. Joan Sladden | Brentwood | 1 December 1993 | 30 November 1997 |
| Mr. Peter Wallis | Grays | 1 December 1994 | 30 November 1998 |
| Mr. Melvyn Lambert | Hornchurch | 1 December 1996 | 30 November 1998 |
| Ms Fiona East | Brentwood | 1 December 1996 | 30 November 1998 |
An advertisement for the chairmanship appointment appeared in the Sunday Times on 29 June 1997. Two more advertisements will be placed in The Guardian on 2 July 1997, and The Times on 3 July 1997. The two non-executive director posts will be advertised in the local press shortly.
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Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) royal colleges and (b) other bodies have indicated that they may withdraw accreditation for teaching of staff employed by the Basildon and Thurrock hospital trust if services are not transferred to Basildon hospital from (i) Orsett hospital and (ii) other locations.[5713]
Mr. Milburn:
We understand from Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust that the accreditation of training currently undertaken at Basildon hospital is not dependent on services being transferred there from Orsett or other locations.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants with (a) full time contracts and (b) part-time contracts with the Basildon and Thurrock hospital trust are permitted under those contracts to work privately at (i) the Nuffield hospital, Brentwood and (ii) other hospitals indicating the total hours they are contracted to work for (1) the trust in each case and (2) in private hospitals. [5714]
Mr. Milburn:
We understand from Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust that it currently employs 69 consultant medical staff. Of these 31 are on whole-time contracts and do 11 sessions a week, 30 are on maximum part-time contracts and do 10 sessions a week, and eight are on part time contracts and do from two to eight sessions a week for the trust. The consultants are employed on nationally agreed terms and conditions which specify their entitlement to undertake private practice. The work plans of every consultant are reviewed annually to ensure that contractual requirements are met and that clinical sessions are allocated to meet local healthcare needs.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the document by which the Basildon and Thurrock hospital trust consulted the Burma Star Association over its intention to seek planning permission for residential development at Orsett of land containing the Burma Star Association's garden of remembrance. [5716]
Mr. Milburn:
We understand from Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS trust that the planning documents prepared so far deal with the principles of land use. Matters relating to the layout of the land are reserved, and Parties having an interest in the site will be consulted as appropriate.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the terminal dates of the fixed term contracts for each of the executive directors of the Basildon and Thurrock hospital trust. [5709]
Mr. Milburn:
We understand from Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS trust that each of the executive directors is on an 18-month rolling contract subject to regular formal review by the remuneration committee.
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