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Multiple Sclerosis
Mr. Corbett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish his response to the findings of the report, "A Survey of Multiple Sclerosis Provision in England 1998-99", published by the Association for Quality Care in Health. [66061]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 18 January 1999]: Under the present system it is for health authorities and general practitioners to plan the services for people in their care, taking into account the needs of the local population and the priorities set for the use of available resources. The move to new commissioning arrangements will bring about improvements in services for people with conditions like multiple sclerosis. Longer term agreements, reflecting dialogue between clinicians and focusing on health improvement will increase the emphasis on programmes of care that cross the traditional boundaries to meet patient's needs best.
Nurse Recruitment Hotline
Dr. Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (a) the number of inquiries to the Nursing Recruitment Hotline since its inception and (b) the number of nursing vacancies in the NHS for each month since May 1997. [69785]
Mr. Denham: As at 23 February 1999, the number of inquiries to the National Health Service telephone response line for the national nursing recruitment campaign was 36,515. Based on various figures from various sources, there are probably in the region of 9,000 vacancies lasting three months or longer.
Nurses (Herefordshire)
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the current number of fully-trained nurses in hospitals in Herefordshire. [70741]
Mr. Denham: There are currently (as of 10 February 1999) 360 trained nurses in post in Herefordshire Acute Hospitals, and 18 vacancies. In Herefordshire Community Hospitals there are currently 48 funded posts and 3 vacancies.
- Source:
- Herefordshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust.
24 Feb 1999 : Column: 348
Primary Care Groups (Derbyshire)
Mr. McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many chief executives of primary health care groups have been appointed in South Derbyshire and North Derbyshire; [71434]
- (2) what is the annual cost to South Derbyshire and North Derbyshire Health Authorities of employing the chief executives for the primary health care groups in their area. [71436]
Mr. Denham: Within North and Southern Derbyshire health authorities there are a total of ten primary care groups. Each of these will have a chief executive whose salary will be approved by the Health Authority's Remuneration Committee.
To date, seven chief executives have been appointed. National guidance gave a framework for salaries ranging between £34,000-50,000.
All these costs will be met within the funds released by the closure of the general practitioner fundholding scheme.
Sir Alastair Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much extra money was provided to the NHS in the Mersey region in connection with the 1998 winter pressures; and how and where it was spent. [71306]
Mr. Denham:
£12.2 million was made available from winter pressure funds and management cost savings to the National Health Service in the Merseyside and Cheshire area (within the former Mersey Regional Health Authority boundary) to help cope with winter pressures. The tables show the purposes for which and the health authorities to whom it was allocated.
| Purpose of allocation | £000 |
|---|---|
| Avoiding inappropriate admissions | 780 |
| Improved hospital care of emergencies | 3,820 |
| Intensive care | 700 |
| Facilitating hospital discharge | 2,860 |
| Community care | 2,250 |
| Maintaining elective activity | 1,280 |
| Other | 530 |
| Health authority allocation | £000 |
|---|---|
| Liverpool | 2,740 |
| North Cheshire | 1,400 |
| Sefton | 1,260 |
| South Cheshire | 2,220 |
| St. Helens and Knowsley | 1,530 |
| Wirral | 3,070 |
Patients (Nationality)
Mr. Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records the NHS maintains of the nationality of patients. [71095]
Mr. Denham:
The National Health Service does not routinely maintain records of the nationality of patients.
24 Feb 1999 : Column: 349
Jackie Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the amounts of funding provided, by each authority area, for AIDS support for (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99 and (c) 1999-2000; [72308]
Ms Jowell:
The level of AIDS Support Grant to local authorities for 1999-2000 will be £15.5 million (an increase of almost 12 per cent. on 1998-99) and the planning figures for 2000-01 and 2001-02 are £16 million and £16.5 million respectively. We expect to announce the 1999-2000 AIDS Support Grant allocations to local authorities shortly.
Information on the amounts of funding provided, by each authority area, for AIDS Support Grant for 1997-98 and 1998-99 has been placed in the Library.
Sir Alastair Goodlad:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data he has collated as to how many people discharged from hospital following a main diagnosis of schizophrenia psychoses and subsequently taken by the police under the Mental Health Act 1983 to hospital have been refused admission in the last year for which figures are available. [72580]
Mr. Hutton:
This information is not available centrally. However, the Department has commissioned the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Research Unit to co-ordinate a programme of research into the use of the Mental Health Act 1983. The research will consider in detail variations in use, assessment and the decision- making process, and analysis of existing data sets. Interim reports will be made available to the expert group undertaking the first phase of the review into mental health legislation. The final reports are due to be made available to the Department on 31 December 1999.
Mr. Sayeed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to establish a national register of carers for the elderly; [72150]
(3) what vetting procedures and guidelines his Department recommends are required with regard to the employment of carers for the elderly. [72152]
Mr. Hutton:
In 1993 the Social Services Inspectorate published "Developing Quality Standards for Home Support Services" which was sent to all social services authorities and made available to the independent sector.
The Social Services White Paper, "Modernising Social Services", included a commitment to introducing a regulatory framework for domiciliary care for the first time. This framework will include legally enforceable standards for registered domiciliary care providers and included in this will be procedures for the vetting and recruitment of care staff.
24 Feb 1999 : Column: 350
The White Paper also included proposals to establish the General Social Care Council. The purpose of the Council is to increase the protection of all service users, their carers and the general public. It will have a registration function based on the successful completion of approved training. The first task of the new Council will be to draw up enforceable codes of conduct and practice for all social care staff.
The General Social Care Council will draw up a code of practice for employers that will set out the need for employers to have sound recruitment practices to prevent unsuitable people from entering the workforce. This code will be enforced through the registration and inspection of services.
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many caesarean sections took place in each of the last five years in England; and what they were in each year as a percentage of all deliveries. [72540]
Mr. Hutton:
Information about the percentage of deliveries by caesarean section in England over the last 5 years is contained in the table.
(2) if he will make a statement on the allocation of the AIDS support grant for 1999-2000. [72309]
(2) what guidance his Department has issued on recommended procedures for ensuring a high standard of care when employing a carer for an elderly relative; [72151]
| Year | Estimated number of caesarean sections | Percentage of deliveries by caesarean section |
|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 86,200 | 13.8 |
| 1993-94 | 93,000 | 15.0 |
| 1994-95 | 93,500 | 15.5 |
| 1995-96 | 94,800 | (7)16 |
| 1996-97 | 101,000 | (7)17 |
(7) Provisional figures pending further work to validate data.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (Maternity)
Department of Health: Statistics Division SD2B
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