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Ear, Nose and Throat Consultants
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants have been employed in NHS ear, nose and throat departments in each of the last five years. [59349]
Mr. Milburn: Information about the number of consultants employed in otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat), on 30 September in each of the last five years for which data are available is shown in the table.
| Year | Wte |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 380 |
| 1993 | 370 |
| 1994 | 370 |
| 1995 | 380 |
| 1996 | 380 |
| 1997 | 400 |
Note:
Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
Source:
The Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census
NHS Trusts
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts about setting goals for the representation of (a) women, (b) people from ethnic minorities and (c) people with disabilities in the workforce; and if he will make a statement; [59361]
- (2) what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts on monitoring and evaluating information collected about the (a) gender, (b) ethnic origin and (c) disability of job applicants. [59360]
17 Nov 1998 : Column: 561
Mr. Milburn [holding answer 12 November 1998]: We have recently issued the first ever human resource strategic framework for the National Health Service. One of the strategic aims of Working Together: Securing a Quality Workforce for the NHS is that the NHS should have a quality workforce, in the right numbers, with the right skills and diversity, organised in the right way to deliver the Government's service objectives for health and social care. The framework commits trusts to demonstrate year on year progress towards achieving a workforce that is fully representative of the community it serves, at all levels of the organisation. Further guidance on equal opportunities monitoring will be issued in 1999 as part of the work on implementing the human resources framework and integrating it with performance management systems within the NHS.
Mid Essex Hospital Trust
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1180-81, what are the latest figures for the number of people in the Mid Essex Hospital NHS Trust area waiting to see a consultant for (a) 13 to 25 weeks and (b) 26 or more weeks. [59546]
Mr. Milburn: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 22 October 1998, Official Report, columns 1180-81. This provides the latest published figures for outpatient waiting times. Figures for the end of September 1998 will be available shortly.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 October 1998, Official Report, column 1180, how many people in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area had been waiting for treatment for 12 months or more at the latest date for which figures are available. [59905]
Mr. Milburn: At Mid Essex Hospital National Health Service Trust, a total of 1,155 people have been waiting for treatment for 12 months or more as at 30 September 1998.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the total number of people in the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area awaiting treatment on (a) 31 March 1997 and (b) 30 September 1998. [59867]
Mr. Milburn: Mid Essex Hospital National Health Service Trust's total waiting list was 8,391 as at 31 March 1997, and was 11,615 as at 30 September 1998.
Value Added Tax
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his officials have concluded their review of the impact of the introduction of the VAT Order SI 1997/2744; and if he will make a statement. [59895]
Mr. Milburn: Officials have concluded their review of the impact of the introduction of the Value Added Tax Order Statutory Instrument 1997/2744.
They are now working closely with Her Majesty's Treasury officials to finalise the administrative procedures to ameliorate the effect of the VAT Order on the supply
17 Nov 1998 : Column: 562
of certain renal and cancer drugs and on the supply of pharmaceutical products by retail pharmacists to residents of nursing homes.
The VAT Order also affected certain incontinence supplies. A review of continence policy is currently underway which is intended to ensure that the most appropriate and effective continence services are being planned and delivered.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce (a) part-time and (b) term- time nurse training to assist mature students with family responsibilities. [59331]
Mr. Milburn:
We encourage and support the provision of part-time, flexible training. We have announced plans to expand on the existing provision of part-time and flexible pre-registration nursing and midwifery diploma programmes by up to 200 places in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and by up to 500 places in 2000-01.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the number of temporary staff employed on psychiatric wards; and if he will make a statement. [59440]
Mr. Hutton:
None. The Government are committed to securing the mental health staff needed to provide high quality services and are therefore increasing training levels for new health professionals and investing in significant additional resources on new initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and return to practice of trained staff.
Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to local health authorities about the categories of patients who are entitled to receive a free influenza vaccination. [59532]
Ms Jowell:
Influenza immunisation is recommended on the National Health Service for all those in whom the disease is more likely to be a serious illness, so immunisation is recommended for:
The final decision on whether influenza immunisation is offered rests with the individual's doctor/medical practitioner.
The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) wrote to doctors and nurses advising them of this extension in policy in a joint letter in August 1998 (Personal Letter/CMO98/4 Personal Letter/CNO/98/6)
17 Nov 1998 : Column: 563
and a Health Services Circular (HSC 1998/140) was sent to health authorities. The Department has issued a poster and updated its two leaflets about influenza: 'What should I do about flu' and 'Flu vaccination', available from surgeries and health centres. Copies are available in the Library.
Mr. Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the surgical procedures carried out during the last quarter for which published data are available on NHS patients who had been waiting more than 12 months for surgery were carried out in the private sector at the cost of NHS trusts and health authorities. [59585]
Mr. Milburn:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his oral answer of 10 November 1998, Official Report, column 141, whether the NHS Executive has issued guidance to NHS trusts only in accordance with the Secretary of State's assurance in the House on 28 April 1998, Official Report, column 134, that he would put a stop to the creation of any new mixed wards in NHS psychiatric units. [59643]
Mr. Hutton:
The National Health Service Executive has recently issued guidance to health authorities and trusts about the elimination of mixed sex hospital accommodation, including psychiatric units. The guidance re-emphasises the importance of providing safe facilities for patients in hospital who are mentally ill and which safeguard their privacy and dignity. Guidance to the NHS on the use of capital allocations will ensure capital is invested to eliminate mixed sex accommodation.
Mr. Truswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Employment concerned with ensuring that all children and young people have the opportunity of at least one hour of physical activity per day. [59698]
Ms Jowell:
The Department collaborates closely with the Department for Education and Employment to develop ways of increasing levels of physical activity among children and young people. As part of the healthy schools initiative, both Departments are working on plans to develop an active and safe travel to school challenge. This work complements the "Young and Active" report, which I launched in September, and which set out a framework for improving physical activity levels among children aged between 5 and 18.
those with chronic respiratory, heart or renal disease, diabetes and those who are immunosuppressed
those living in long stay residential accommodation
from this year, all those aged 75 and over.
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