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Cardiac Disease (Staffordshire)
Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the percentage of patients who achieve return of spontaneous circulation at the point of admission following (a) cardiac arrests and (b) heart attack having been delivered to (i) Stafford General Hospital, (ii) Burton District General Hospital and
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(iii) Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield by the Staffordshire Ambulance Service for each of the last two financial years. [61902]
Ms Jowell:
The information for part (a) is listed in the table. Many patients suffering a heart attack (myocardial infarction) do not have a cardiac arrest and do not lose spontaneous circulation. These are therefore not included in the table.
| Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Hospital | 1996-97 | 1997-98 |
| Stafford General | 20.5 | 19.0 |
| Burton District General Hospital | 17.1 | 19.0 |
| Good Hope | 22.9 | 15.2 |
Source:
Staffordshire Ambulance Service Cardiac Arrest Audit April 1997-March 1998
Pre-pregnancy Care
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision he plans to make for pre-pregnancy care of women of childbearing age, following the Acheson report concerning inequalities in health. [62286]
Mr. Hutton: The Acheson Report drew attention to improvements in health and life expectancy associated with income and living standards. The Government are firmly committed to improving the living standards of the poorest households and are already taking a number of measures that will help to achieve this. We shall be considering Sir Donald Acheson's recommendations as a whole in the development of a new health strategy, and we shall publish a White Paper early next year.
Independent Pharmacists
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average length of the time taken, by region, by his Department to pay independent pharmacists for the cost of medicines dispensed. [62068]
Mr. Milburn: A payment representing approximately 80 per cent. of the amount due for dispensing prescriptions is made to community pharmacists on the first day of the month following that in which correctly endorsed prescriptions are received for pricing at the prescription pricing authority. The balance is paid on the first day of the following month once prescriptions have been fully processed.
Renal Services
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the North West Lancashire, Morecambe Bay and South Cumbria, East Lancashire, and South Lancashire health authorities have not agreed a policy to fund an expansion of the renal unit at the Royal Preston Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [61743]
Mr. Milburn:
The four health authorities support the recommendations of the pan-Lancashire review of renal services, which reported last year. That review recommended the development of a "hub-and-spoke" model for long term renal care; a hub in Preston and satellite units in Accrington, Blackpool and Kendal. The authorities agreed additional revenue for 1998-99 to implement the model in the short term, essentially by
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maximizing the use of existing local facilities. They have also set up a working group to determine how resources should be allocated in future years.
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what amount was spent per head of population on renal services in each health authority area in England in the year for which he has the most up-to-date data. [61744]
Mr. Milburn:
In terms of global budget, 1.5 per cent. of National Health Service revenue was spent on renal services in 1996. Information about the amount spent per capita on renal services in each health authority in England is not available.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the savings to the NHS budget which could be made by implementing the recommendations in the report, Improving the Health of the NHS Workforce; and if he will make a statement. [62116]
Mr. Milburn:
It is difficult to estimate, at this stage, what savings might accrue from the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Nuffield report, but it is acknowledged that a reduction of 1 per cent. in staff sickness absence would release £140 million per annum for patient care.
Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has taken to ensure that staff working in special hospitals understand their role within the complaints system; [62118]
Mr. Hutton:
It is for each high security (special) hospital to determine the methods to be employed in selecting staff to work in the hospital, and to ensure that they receive any necessary advice, training and education to enable them to perform the full range of their duties.
A seminar is being held in each region in England and in Wales, looking at training, work force planning and education issues relating to people working with mentally disordered offenders (MDOs). This programme covers the whole range of agencies and disciplines who have an involvement with MDOs, whether in secure settings or in the community. It aims to identify the core and specialist skills required to work successfully with MDOs and to develop efficient and effective training, work force planning and education strategies within each region.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the numbers of United Kingdom citizens currently suffering from reflex sympathetic disorder; how many are registered disabled; and what research the NHS has conducted into (i) the causes of and (ii) potential cures for the disorder. [61901]
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Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not available in the form required. No research is currently taking place in relation to reflex sympathetic disorder. However, the National Health Service provides a wide range of services for people with neurological diseases.
Mr. Donaldson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many successful prosecutions for environmental pollution there have been by the Health and Safety Executive against operators of illegal gas and oil retailing points in Northern Ireland. [61921]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert C. Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
(2) what action his Department is taking to improve the methods for selecting and training staff who work with newly admitted patients in special hospitals. [62117]
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