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GP Fundholders (South-West)
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by health authority in (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon the total underspend by GP fundholders in each year since 1992 for which figures are available. [15383]
Mr. Milburn: The information requested is in the table. These figures are the total savings on general practitioner fundholders' budgets, and savings per fundholding practice. The figures for 1996-97 are provisional.
| Year | Authority | Total underspend | FH practices | Savings per practice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | ||||
| 1992-93 | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA | 452 | 4 | 113 |
| 1993-94 | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA | 387 | 8 | 48 |
| 1994-95 | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly FHSA | 720 | 11 | 65 |
| 1995-96 | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA | 985 | 11 | 90 |
| 1996-97 | Cornwall and Isles of Scilly HA | 971 | 18 | 54 |
| Devon | ||||
| 1992-93 | Devon FHSA | 556 | 16 | 35 |
| 1993-94 | Devon FHSA | 1,285 | 26 | 49 |
| 1994-95 | Devon FHSA | 2,037 | 29 | 70 |
| 1995-96 | Devon FHSA | 1,530 | 33 | 46 |
| 1996-97 | North and East Devon HA | 1,706 | 33 | 52 |
| South and West Devon HA | 1,259 | 33 | 38 |
Source:
Annual accounts of the family health services authorities (1992-93).
GP fundholder audited accounts (1993-94 to 1995-96).
Annual accounts of health authorities (1996-97).
Note:
1996-97 figures are provisional.
12 Nov 1997 : Column: 601
Cold Weather (Elderly People)
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission research into the effects of cold weather on the health of the elderly. [15639]
Mr. Boateng: There are currently no plans to commission any such research. It is known that mortality rises steeply in winter and that the increase in deaths is chiefly among people 60 or older. The Department, in partnership with the Benefits Agency and the voluntary sector, runs an annual campaign--Keep Warm, Keep Well--which aims to provide information on health, benefits and home improvement during the winter.
Community Nurses
Mr. Burnett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the spending on community nurses in each health authority in (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon in each year since 1979 for which figures are available; [15659]
- (2) if he will list the average spending on community nurses for English health authorities in each year since 1979 for which figures are available. [15660]
(3) if he will list the spending on community nurses in England (a) in cash terms and (b) at 1979 prices for each year since 1979 for which figures are available. [15661]
Mr. Milburn: Information on spending on community health nursing can not be separated centrally from expenditure on all nursing staff. The table shows expenditure on community nursing services of which community nursing staff will form the major part. The information is not available for individual health authorities.
(21) The categories for which community services data were collected changed in 1998-89 as follows:
1979-80 to 1988-89 Health Visiting, District Nursing, Community Midwifery; 1989-90 to 1995-96 Professional Advice and Support, General Patient Care, Community Mental Illness Nursing, Community Mental Health Nursing, Community Maternity.
Figures are presented on both bases for 1988-89.
1. The GDP factor was used to calculate the 1979-80 prices.
2. Figures for 1991-92 onwards cannot be compared with those for earlier years due to changes in accounting practices following the NHS reforms.
12 Nov 1997 : Column: 602
Delayed Discharges
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list by National Health Service trust in (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon the number of delayed discharges in each year since 1992 for which figures are available; [15385]
- (2) what was the average number of delayed discharges in English National Health Service trusts in each year since 1992 for which figures are available. [15386]
Mr. Boateng:
Information on delayed discharge is collected by the Department of Health on a health authority basis and not by National Health Service trust. The available information is in the table. The information is collected on a survey basis and shows the number of patients aged 75 and over, who are ready for discharge, but still occupy a hospital bed on a given day in the quarter. It is not the total number of delayed discharges in that quarter.
12 Nov 1997 : Column: 601
| Q4 1994-95 | Q2 1995-96 | Q4 1995-96 | Q1 1996-97 | Q3 1996-97 | Q4 1996-97 | Q1 1997-98 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South and West Devon | 0 | 48 | 111 | 116 | 22 | 37 | 57 |
| Cornwall and Isles of Scilly | 92 | 96 | 84 | 51 | 65 | 73 | 43 |
| North and East Devon | 140 | 90 | 129 | 165 | 165 | 165 | 66 |
| Average per health authority in England | 65 | 71 | 77 | 79 | 65 | 71 | 64 |
12 Nov 1997 : Column: 601
Health Services (Rural Areas)
Mr. Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to health authorities on the accessibility of acute and community hospital services in remote rural areas. [15466]
12 Nov 1997 : Column: 602
Mr. Boateng:
We have not issued any detailed guidance on models of health care in remote rural communities. However, we are currently reviewing issues relating to effective service configurations, including access to services for patients.