| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
NHS Resources
36. Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the elements of the weighted capitation formula for the allocation of NHS resources to health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [62479]
Mr. Milburn: On 10 November 1998, we announced a wide ranging review of the weighted capitation formula used to inform allocations to health authorities and primary care groups.
Nurses (Recruitment)
37. Mr. Fraser: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how he intends to meet his target for nurse recruitment. [62480]
Mr. Milburn: We announced on 23 September 1998 a four-point recruitment and retention plan. The plan takes into account the need to increase the numbers of nursing and midwifery students in training, target staff who have left the profession to return, broaden career structures and improve the working lives of people working in the National Health Service.
Road Traffic Accidents (Costs)
38. Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the correlation between road traffic levels and health service costs. [62481]
Mr. Hutton:
As part of the work which has been undertaken in association with the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Bill, which is currently before the House, we have looked at the number of road traffic accidents which take place, their level of severity and the cost of treating those people injured in accidents. This information has informed the tariff of charges which will be applied under the terms of the Bill.
15 Dec 1998 : Column: 473
Mr. Derek Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what roles and responsibilities he proposes for regional commissions for care standards. [62447]
Mr. Hutton:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave earlier today.
Mr. Fabian Hamilton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of mental health services in the city of Leeds. [62466]
Mr. Hutton:
I understand there have been concerns about mental health services in Leeds and I welcome the Leeds Health Authority's commitment to improve services through increased funding and the modernisation of facilities over the next few years.
Mr. Cox:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the trend in the number of trainee general practitioners in the NHS over the past 12 months. [63339]
Mr. Milburn:
Information about general practitioner Registrars (previously referred to as trainees) over the past 12 months is not available. Between October 1996 and October 1997, the number of GP Registrars in England increased by 2.9 per cent.
Mr. Gerrard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to revise the current system of funding for NHS treatment and care services for HIV/AIDS; [63608]
Ms Jowell:
We set up the Stocktake Group last year to advise on a lasting formula for the distribution of the HIV/AIDS treatment and care budget. The group's recommendations are currently with Ministers and an announcement on their decision and on the allocations to health authorities of the HIV/AIDS treatment and care budget for the financial year 1999/2000 will be made in due course.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions the Chief Medical Officer has compiled an assessment of, or report into, the safety of CS sprays since January 1993. [63779]
Ms Jowell:
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is currently considering the health effects of CS spray when used as an incapacitant. A comprehensive review of the available data has been prepared by officials at the Department for this purpose. The COT will consider the subject further at their February 1999 meeting. Their conclusions will be made known publicly once agreed and a copy of the review will be placed in the Library at the same time.
15 Dec 1998 : Column: 474
Officials at the Department have previously reviewed the scientific data on CS gas and sprays but they have not produced any scientific papers or reports on the subject. A list of the published scientific literature which was fully reviewed has been placed previously in the Library.
Mr. Hesford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency departments are planned to be refurbished during the coming financial year. [62655]
Mr. Hutton:
We are investing £30 million from the National Health Service modernisation fund to upgrade around 50 accident and emergency departments in England next year.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the Annual Report of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. [64266]
Ms Jowell:
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has published its seventh Annual Report today. The Report has been laid before the House in accordance with the requirements of section 7(3) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Copies have been placed in the Library.
Sir Nicholas Lyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received concerning the effects of prescribing sodium valproate to epileptics during pregnancy; and if he will make a statement. [63944]
Ms Jowell:
We are not currently aware of any representations concerning the effects of prescribing sodium valproate to people with epilepsy during pregnancy. Risks to the foetus are recognised for anticonvulsant therapies and information about whether and how to use medicines in pregnant patients can be found in the authorised product information for health professionals and patients. Women taking antiepileptic drugs who may become pregnant should be informed of the possible consequences. Those who wish to become pregnant should be referred to an appropriate specialist for advice. Women who become pregnant should be counselled and offered antenatal screening. The risks of epileptic control need to be weighed against the risks to the foetus of these treatments.
Mr. Livingstone:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department has funded (a) to treat the victims of Halabja in northern Iraq following the chemical weapons attack by Iraqi military forces on the town in March 1998 and (b) to monitor the long-term effects of the chemical weapons on the residents of the town; and if he will make a statement. [63778]
Ms Jowell:
The Department of Health has not provided any assistance to the people of Halabja since the chemical weapons attack in March 1988, as international assistance of this kind is channelled through the Department for International Development (DfID). My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development
15 Dec 1998 : Column: 475
provided a written answer on DfID's efforts on 29 July 1998, Official Report, column 283 and this represents the current state of play.
Sir Nicholas Lyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is given out of public funds to the National Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome Association; and if he will make a statement. [63937]
Ms Jowell:
The Department provides no funding at present. The Association recently applied for a grant under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 and this is under consideration.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will publish league tables of units of delivery for the New Deal in such a form as to enable a comparison to be made between the performance of the private sector, the Employment Service and other providers. [63273]
Mr. Andrew Smith
[holding answer 14 December 1998]: Yesterday I published performance tables for all units of delivery. The tables compare progress at local level of all those young people who entered the New Deal in April--the first month of full national operation--and in particular shows what proportion of those young people has moved into jobs. Copies will be placed in the Libraries.
Mr. Michael J. Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress has been made by the Sustainable Development Education Panel in identifying environmental key skills. [63443]
Mr. Charles Clarke:
Earlier this year the Panel made two submissions to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority identifying sustainable development skills at each of the key stages. The sustainable charity Forum For The Future is publishing position papers on the Panel's behalf, identifying sustainable development curriculums in higher education for design, business and teacher education.
(2) when he will announce the outcome of the Stocktake Group on spending on HIV/AIDS and the allocations to health authorities for treatment and care services for HIV/AIDS. [63607]
Association
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |