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Nurses
20. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage increase in nurses on trainee schemes was for 1997 over the previous year; and what proportion of this increase was made up of graduate nurses. [67179]
Mr. Denham: The English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting collects statistical information on students on nurse trainee schemes and publishes the figures in their annual reports, but not in the format requested.
21. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the training of nurses. [67180]
Mr. Denham: We have already said that we must reform the system of nurse education and training.
We want to see more flexible, modular nurse education that has far stronger links with the NHS at all levels. We want student nurses to have more work-based learning in the NHS and see an NHS committed to preparing the next generation of nurses.
We will be discussing how we achieve this with representatives of the professions, the UK General Council and the universities.
24. Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were registered with the UK Central Council for England and Wales on (i) 1 May 1997 and (ii) 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement. [67183]
Mr. Denham:
For the information requested, I refer the hon. Member to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting.
27. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many extra nurse trainees would have entered
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training in the years 1992 to 1997 if the level of intake matched expected levels for 1998 to 2001. [67186]
Mr. Denham:
If the previous Government had matched our commitment to nurse training over their last five years of office, over 14,000 extra nurse trainees would have entered training.
36. Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what improvements he is making to nurse education and training. [67195]
Mr. Denham:
We wish to see nurse education become more accessible and provide nurses with the practical skills they need when they enter the National Health Service. We will be discussing how we achieve this with representatives of the professions and the universities, and with Sir Len Peach, Chair of the United Kingdom Central Council Commission for Education. The commission is reviewing nurse education and will report in the summer.
The NHS is already working to improve nurse education, for example by encouraging the use of longer practice placements and by working closely with universities to encourage more joint NHS/University-funded nurse teacher posts.
37. Mr. Hurst:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new student nurse trainees were forecast to start training in the year 1 January 1997 to 31 December 1997; and how many new student nurse trainees started training during that year. [67196]
Mr. Denham:
From April 1997 to April 1998 the number of nurse training places was increased by just under 1,500 against a planned increase of 1,300.
22. Mrs. Mahon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers will be available to the Commission for Health Improvement for supporting the local development of health care and spot-checking new arrangements. [67181]
Mr. Denham:
Forthcoming legislation will set out powers to enable the Commission to obtain access to information for the purposes of conducting reviews of the implementation and adequacy of arrangements to monitor and improve the quality of healthcare provided by National Health Service Trusts and Primary Care Trusts.
23. Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve the retention of NHS staff. [67182]
Mr. Denham:
"Working Together--Securing a quality workforce for the NHS", published in September 1998, sets targets for local employers to demonstrate year-on-year improvement in retention rates for all health professional staff.
25. Mr. Flight:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding making Viagra available on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [67184]
2 Feb 1999 : Column: 572
Mr. Denham:
Since September we have received some 490 written representations from Members of Parliament, professional representative bodies, patient groups and the public about the availability of Viagra on the National Health Service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced on 21 January the start of a six-week public consultation on substantive policy proposals about the treatment of impotence on the NHS.
26. Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he is making toward equality of provision in the national health service; and when he expects to achieve it. [67185]
Mr. Denham:
The Government are producing National Service Frameworks, establishing the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and introducing a National Performance Assessment Framework, which will challenge and address variations in the provision of clinically and cost-effective treatments not based on the health needs and wishes of local people.
30. Mr. Clapham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure equality of provision for cervical screening; and if he will make a statement. [67189]
Mr. Hutton:
Tackling health inequalities is one of two key aims in "Our Healthier Nation" and it is a priority for health and social services. We are committed to ensuring that all women aged 20-64 have access to cervical screening at least every five years. In those health authorities areas which are not achieving 80 per cent. coverage, targeted initiatives are underway to improve coverage. At a national level, a new Inner Cities Action Group is identifying and disseminating good practice in increasing coverage among ethnic minority and lower socio-economic groups.
33. Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has put into effect with the aim of increasing morale in the NHS. [67192]
Mr. Denham:
"Working Together: Securing a quality workforce for the NHS", a framework for managing human resources in the National Health Service, was circulated to the NHS on 22 September 1998 and is a major step forward in our drive to meeting the aspirations of both staff and employers. The pay review bodies have welcomed the initiatives that we announced to improve the quality of the working lives of staff.
By April 2000 employers will, among other measures, have to:
2 Feb 1999 : Column: 573
34. Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his target for investment in the modernisation of accident and emergency departments during 1999. [67193]
Mr. Denham:
The Government have announced an extra £30 million to modernise some 50 accident and emergency departments in the coming year.
35. Mr. Darvill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care groups he expects to commence during 1999. [67194]
Mr. Denham:
481 primary care groups will commence on 1 April 1999.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if primary care groups may commission services. [67176]
Mr. Denham:
Primary care groups will have the capacity to commission services from 1 April 1999. The degree of responsibility for commissioning services will be agreed between the primary care group and the health authority.
have systems in place to record and monitor workplace accidents and violence against staff, and have published strategies in place to achieve a reduction in such incidents;
have policies and procedures in place to tackle harassment by staff and service users, supported by monitoring and reporting arrangements to measure progress;
have in place training and development plans in place for the majority of health professionals;
have developed and reviewed their mechanisms for involving staff in planning and delivering health care;
achieve year-on-year improvement in sick absence rates and, where applicable, targeted progress towards national minimum benchmarks;
demonstrate year-on-year improvement in retention rates for all health professional staff and, where applicable, targeted progress towards national benchmarks;
have undertaken an annual staff attitude survey to act as a benchmark against which improvements to the quality of working life can be measured.
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