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IVF Treatment
24. Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure equality of access to IVF treatment. [77722]
Ms Jowell: We have pledged to tackle unacceptable levels of geographical variations in access to in-vitro fertilisation treatment and have set in motion a programme of work to achieve that aim. A Department of Health survey of current health authority infertility service provision will take place shortly to enable the cost implications of any policy changes to be estimated. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists aim to complete their third, and final, set of evidence-based clinical guidelines on infertility this autumn and these will indicate the circumstances in which infertility treatment can be most clinically effective. We can then move towards fairer access to national health service infertility services, where those most able to benefit from such treatment receive it.
Residential and Nursing Homes
25. Dr. David Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish his report on national required standards for residential and nursing homes for older people. [77723]
Mr. Hutton: The report will be published when further work has been done on the likely impact on providers, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidance on regulatory impact assessments.
Breast Cancer
26. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce waiting times for breast cancer treatment. [77724]
Mr. Hutton:
Considerable progress has already been made through the on-going implementation of Calman/Hine. In addition, the Government have invested £20 million over the past 18 months in breast cancer
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 647
services to speed access to diagnosis and treatment. Quarterly monitoring of "The New NHS" White Paper breast cancer two-week target begins on 1 April.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence he has assessed on the success rates of early screening programmes in treating breast cancer. [77703]
Mr. Hutton:
In 1996-97 the national health service breast screening programme, for the first time, matched the cancer detection rate of the original Swedish clinical trial in 1986 on which it was based. The majority of these cancers were small, early cancers which are easier to treat. Based on these results, it is estimated that the programme could be saving 1,250 lives each year.
Mr. Barnes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received on errors made by the Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust in diagnosing breast cancer; and if he will make a statement. [78939]
Mr. Hutton
[holding answer 26 March 1999]: We are aware of the two terrible cases which have been the subject of media attention and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to both women to express his feelings of deep regret that they have had such an awful experience.
We have asked the regional director of public health in Trent to commission a comprehensive review of the circumstances to ensure that everything possible is done to avoid this happening again. The review team will include an expert nominated by the Royal College of Pathologists. My right hon. Friend will be kept informed of progress and will be fully appraised of the conclusions and recommendations of the review team, which will be published.
27. Ms Coffey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the waiting times for children for adoptive families. [77725]
Mr. Hutton:
Some children needing new families wait too long to be placed with adoptive parents. Decisions about their future should be made more quickly and decisively. We are determined to transform the adoption service through our "Quality Protects" programme.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full service agencies for inter-country adoption are registered in the United Kingdom. [78326]
Mr. Hutton:
Each local authority may act as an adoption agency for inter-country adoptions. In addition, there are 2 voluntary adoption agencies which are approved under section 3 of the Adoption Act 1976 to act as an adoption society in England and Wales which are also approved to act in overseas adoptions. Applications from two other adoption agencies to act in overseas adoptions have been received recently.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the job description of the Section Head (Adoption) in his Department. [78306]
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 648
Mr. Hutton:
The section head advises Ministers on domestic and inter-country adoption matters and, on behalf of my right hon Friend the Secretary of State, manages the Department's function as the central authority for England for inter-country adoption.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adoption applications for adoption within the UK were received in each year since 1990; and of these how many resulted in adoptions. [78328]
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not available centrally. The Department processes applications only for inter-country adoptions. Domestic adoption applications are processed by the local authority concerned.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adoption applications for inter-country adoptions were received in each year since 1990; and how many of these resulted in adoptions being completed. [78327]
Mr. Hutton:
The Department does not hold information about the number of children adopted from abroad, only about the number of inter-country adoption applications it has processed since 1993. These will account for the majority of such adoptions since then and are set out as in the table.
| Year | Number of inter-country adoption applications processed by the Department |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 101 |
| 1994 | 115 |
| 1995 | 154 |
| 1996 | 308 |
| 1997 | 223 |
| 1998 | 258 |
| Total | 1,159 |
Winter Fuel Allowance
28. Mr. Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact the Chancellor's increase in the senior citizens winter fuel allowance will have on the health of senior citizens. [77726]
Ms Jowell: By announcing in his recent Budget statement an increase from £20 to £100 in the winter fuel allowance payable to pensioner households, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor clearly signalled the Government's intention to tackle fuel poverty. By benefiting those older people most at risk, this substantial fivefold increase will contribute to combating the many health problems related to cold conditions in homes.
Radiotherapy Services (North-West)
29. Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made to reduce the above average waiting times for radiotherapy treatment in the north-west region caused by a lack of linear accelerators. [77727]
Mr. Denham:
Since the Royal College of Radiologists collected the data which it published in July 1998, a new radiotherapy unit with two linear accelerators has opened
30 Mar 1999 : Column: 649
in Preston. In that time, the number of machines serving people in the north west and north Wales has increased from 12 to 16. Work is currently under way to house a third machine at Preston, which will come into service next year.
A report commissioned by the National Health Service Executive North-West, which will make recommendations about the level of provision of radiotherapy treatment machines in the region, is due shortly.
31. Mr. Tredinnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the change in the total funding for complementary medicine services from health authority budgets in the past year. [77729]
Ms Jowell:
Information about health authority spending on complementary medicine services is not available centrally.
It is for local purchasers and clinicians to decide how their resources would best be used to meet the health needs of their populations, having taken into account all of the available evidence as to the most appropriate and effective forms of treatment, whether conventional or complementary. We shall, however, be studying the use that the new primary care groups make of complementary medicine.
32. Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans to improve accident and emergency services in north-east London. [77730]
Mr. Denham:
On 16 February my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced that £30 million from the modernisation fund will be spent on improving England's accident and emergency services. In north-east London, Whipps Cross Hospital and Oldchurch Hospital have received £695,000 and £748,000 respectively to redevelop and modernise their accident and emergency units. These figures include awards from the National Health Service Executive's London Regional Office.
(North-east London)
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