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Senior Medical Practitioners
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will break down the costs of all suspensions of senior medical practitioners on full pay for each of the last five years between (a) legal costs, (b) administration costs, (c) salaries paid to those on suspension and (d) any other costs; [65250]
- (2) how many NHS suspended senior medical practitioners have been (a) disciplined, (b) after investigations cleared of any allegations against them and (c) had any proceedings against them dropped, in each of the last five years; and how many of those personnel subsequently continued in the employment of the health authority or trust concerned. [65251]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is not available centrally. The National Health Service Executive monitors doctors suspended for more than six months. Since 31 March 1995, a total of 44 cases of suspension lasting over six months have been reported. As at 30 September 1998, the latest date for which figures are available, 14 hospital and community medical and dental staff, including 9 consultants, have been suspended for over six months. Decisions on whether to suspend, or discipline, a medical practitioner rest with the employing authority or trust. Hospital doctors who are suspended from duty will, in most cases, continue to receive full pay during the period of suspension. The NHS Executive is reviewing current suspension procedures.
NHS Boards
Mr. Denis Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nominations have been received in calendar year 1998 for non-executive posts on NHS boards, indicating (a) the percentage of nominations which have been for (i) women, (ii) people with disabilities and (iii) people from ethnic minorities and (b) the number of persons who have been appointed to non-executive posts on NHS boards and the percentage of those who are (1) women, (2) people with disabilities and (3) people from ethnic minorities. [65038]
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Mr. Denham:
A total of 3,258 applications were received for appointments to be made in 1998 in response to a national advertisement and as a result of nominations by hon. Members and local authorities. Of these, 33.9 per cent. were from women, 3.2 per cent. were from those who declared they had a disability and 10.7 per cent. were people from the ethnic minorities.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State subsequently made 1,490 appointments in 1998 to National Health Service trusts and health authorities. Of these, 50.2 per cent. were women, 11.4 per cent. were from the ethnic minorities and 1.5 per cent. declared they had a disability.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations he has had with (a) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) the Secretary of State for Social Security on Part 2 (1) of the report of the independent inquiry into inequalities in health chaired by Sir Donald Acheson. [64814]
Ms Jowell:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had consultations about the report of the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health (the Acheson report) with a number of our Ministerial colleagues, including my right hon. Friends the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary of State for Social Security.
The Acheson report was considered in Cabinet sub-committee prior to its publication. Since then our officials have been in close touch with their counterparts across Whitehall about the report's recommendations. We made it clear at the time of publication that the whole Government were committed to reducing health inequalities and that the Acheson report was an important contribution to that process.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on the care of patients with learning difficulties in each of the last five years. [65486]
| Year | Expenditure on learning difficulties(9) | Total revenue expenditure(10) | Proportion of total revenue expenditure on learning difficulties per cent. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | 1,132,664 | 28,860,577 | 3.92 |
| 1994-95 | 1,126,667 | 30,271,914 | 3.72 |
| 1995-96 | 1,157,673 | 32,162,568 | 3.60 |
| 1996-97 | 1,234,718 | 31,612,941 | 3.91 |
| 1997-98 | 1,285,627 | 33,269,629 | 3.86 |
(9) 1993-94 to 1995-96 health authority financial returns. 1996-97 and 1997-98 health authority annual accounts.
(10) Summarised accounts of the regional and district health authorities and special health authorities for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals and family health services authorities, 1993-94 to 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98.
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Health Trust and Authority Appointments
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of appointments to health trusts and health authorities in 1998 were not filled by re-appointment or new appointment immediately upon the completion of the period of service of the existing incumbent; how many such vacancies currently exist; and if he will make a statement. [65660]
Mr. Denham: In 1998, 555 appointments to National Health Service trusts and 318 appointments to health authorities were due to be made when the term of office of a chair or non-executive expired. 17.1 per cent. of the NHS trust appointments and 22.6 per cent. of the health authority appointments were not made before the due date. At 12 January 1999, 8.8 per cent. of the NHS trust and 2.5 per cent. of the health authority appointments remained unfilled. Great efforts are always made to ensure that all appointments are made on time. Any delays are due to the need to ensure that the right person is chosen for the job.
Older People
Dr. Brand: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the work force issues identified by the Health Advisory Service 2000 report, "Not Because They Are Old", with particular reference to staffing levels, skill mix, education and development, management arrangements and support systems. [65322]
Mr. Denham (holding answer 14 January 1999): We are taking a number of steps which will help to address issues raised in the report. These include the publication of the framework for the management of human resources for the whole of the National Health Service, "Working Together, securing a quality work force for the NHS", which sets targets for local employers in areas such as improved recruitment and retention. We have also consulted widely on modern arrangements to underpin quality in the NHS including the development of lifelong learning and will be issuing guidance on continuing professional development.
Dentists
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the procedures for the establishment of new NHS dentists with particular reference to the length of time taken to reach a decision. [66056]
Mr. Denham: The vast majority of dentists are self-employed, and it is therefore up to them where and when they establish themselves. The establishment of Personal Dental Services pilots requires the approval of the Secretary of State, and we have no plans to change this process. Funding through the Investing In Dentistry scheme, which may result in new practices being set up, is also approved by the Secretary of State, and we are considering whether the operation of this scheme can be improved.
Medicines Control Agency
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has recently received from (a) right hon. and hon. Members and (b) others in relation to the Medicines Control Agency Consultation
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Document MLX 249; and how many of these representations (a) broadly supported and (b) broadly opposed the detail of the proposals. [65723]
Ms Jowell
[holding answer 14 January 1999]: We have received 69 letters from hon. and right hon. Members and 278 representations from other interested bodies and individuals. Three representations broadly support the proposals. The remainder are critical of the proposals to some degree.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the powers of the Medicines Control Agency; and if he will make a statement. [66362]
Ms Jowell:
The powers of the licensing authority, of which the Medicines Control Agency is an executive arm, are set out in the Medicines Act 1968 and secondary legislation including the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994. There are no plans to extend those powers.
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