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Waiting Times
Mr. Syms:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for each of the last 10 years how many patients have waited (a) less than 12 months, (b) more than 12 months and (c) more than 18 months for treatment in each (i) region in England and (ii) health authority. [74733]
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Mr. Denham:
Copies of available information on the number of patients waiting less than 12 months, 12 to 18 months and more than 18 months for hospital treatment at 31 December each year have been placed in the Library.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency (i) admission wards and (ii) admission ward beds announced on 15 March were (a) additional wards and beds and (b) re-designated wards and beds. [77317]
Mr. Hutton:
Following the announcement on 15 March 1999, regions are preparing detailed plans for the accident and emergency modernisation programme in discussion with National Health Service trusts and health authorities. A list of schemes approved by Ministers will be announced in due course.
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were taken into long-term public care in each year from 1990 to 1998; and how many adoptions from the care system were effected in each of those years. [78322]
Mr. Hutton:
Information for the years 1990 to 1998 is given in the table.
| England: Year ending 31 March | Number of children starting to be looked after | Number of children looked after and adopted during the year |
|---|---|---|
| 1990(14) | 30,100 | 2,500 |
| 1991(14) | 29,300 | 2,400 |
| 1992(15) | not available | not available |
| 1993 | 29,000 | 2,500 |
| 1994 | 31,100 | 2,300 |
| 1995 | 32,500 | 2,000 |
| 1996 | 32,100 | 1,900 |
| 1997 | 31,400 | 1,900 |
| 1998(16) | 31,700 | not available |
(13) Figures for children looked after in this table exclude agreed series of short term placements but do not otherwise distinguish between children who will remain in care for relatively shorter and longer periods.
(14) Data refer to children admitted to care under previous legislation.
(15) Figures not available due to the implementation of the Children Act during this year.
(16) Figures for number of children adopted during 1997-98 not available.
Cancer Services (Funding)
Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the New Opportunities funding for cancer services will be allocated; what are the criteria for allocation of money under the New Opportunities Fund for cancer services; and what plans he has to increase the availability of cytotoxic drugs under this programme; [79074]
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(3) what assessment he has made of the impact of New Opportunities funding on NHS cancer services; and if he will make a statement. [79083]
Mr. Hutton:
The New Opportunities Fund for cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care will contribute to the Government's drive to provide high quality cancer services for all and reduce cancer mortality. The New Opportunities Fund money will also help to reduce waiting times for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer by investing in replacement or additional high-tech equipment.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is leading the New Opportunities Fund initiative. £150 million has been allocated for National Health Service cancer services over the next three years. Application guidance will be available in the late Summer and bids will build on local initiatives to promote cancer prevention, improve access to screening and treatment, including the provision of new equipment, and help individuals and families to cope with the impact of cancer on their lives.
The focus of the initiative in England will be the purchase of equipment, such as breast screening mammography units, scanners and linear accelerators. There are no plans to use New Opportunities Funding for cytotoxic drugs. 80 per cent. of the total allocation in England will be used to purchase equipment. It is anticipated that a large part of the funding will be allocated in the first year. The Directions make it clear that this is a one-off catch-up exercise in order to bring provision to an even standard across the country and that equipment should only be purchased which is in addition to that planned and funded within currently approved budgets.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons a medicines product licence may be required for a product which is a blend of two ingredients neither of which would require a product licence, if sold separately. [79487]
Ms Jowell:
A product containing two or more ingredients which, if sold separately, would not come within medicines legislation is not classified by the Medicines Control Agency as a licensable medicinal product unless it is presented for treating or preventing disease or, not being a food or toilet preparation, it may be administered with a view to restoring, correcting or modifying physiological functions in humans. However, where a herbal product--whether or not it includes non-herbal substances--is classified as a medicinal product, it will be subject to medicines legislation. Herbal remedies, accordingly, require a marketing authorisation unless they are exempt from licensing under the terms of Section 12 of the Medicines Act 1968. Section 132 of the Act makes it clear that the exemption for herbal remedies does not extend to products which contain active non-herbal substances.
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Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the availability of homoeopathic and herbal medicines for cancer treatments on the NHS. [79499]
Mr. Hutton:
A Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services (Calman/Hine) reported that one of the general principles that should govern the provision of cancer care is that the development of cancer services should be patient centred and should take account of patients, carers and family views and preferences as well as those of professionals.
Like other forms of treatment, the availability of homeopathic and herbal medicines on the National Health Service is a matter, firstly for the clinical judgment of the clinician in respect of individual patients and, secondly, upon decisions taken at local level on how resources should best be used to meet the health needs of the local population in the context of local health implementation programmes.
Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government are undertaking to improve cancer treatment provision in the UK. [79497]
Mr. Hutton:
The Calman/Hine report published in 1995 set out a framework for improving the organisation and delivery of cancer services in England and Wales. Similar arrangements are in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland. A key element has been the identification of cancer units and centres and local agreements about which cancers should be treated at each individual hospital. Implementation is being supported by the subsequent publication of evidence-based guidance for improving outcomes in breast, colorectal and lung cancer. Guidance on the gynaecological cancers will be published in April 1999 and cancers of the upper gastro-intestinal tract will follow in late autumn. Over the past 18 months, we have invested £30 million in breast and colorectal cancer services to speed access to diagnosis and treatment and improve quality of care. We announced on 5 March 1999 that a further £10 million was being made available to improve lung cancer services. Targeted funding will be used to improve access to lung cancer services, augment specialist teams and improve palliative care services in a similar way to the funding made available for breast cancer services. National Health Service trusts and health authorities will be asked to submit funding proposals and detail the tangible improvements that the funding will achieve.
Our new White Paper "The new NHS" guarantees that everyone with suspected cancer will be able to see a specialist within two weeks of their general practitioner deciding that they need to be seen urgently and requesting an appointment. These arrangements have been guaranteed for everyone with suspected breast cancer by April 1999 and for all other cases of suspected cancer by 2000. A new monitoring system will be operational from April 1999 for measuring achievement of the breast cancer target. Health Authorities will demonstrate in their health improvement programmes that plans are in place to deliver quality and timely care in accordance with Calman/Hine and the White Paper target.
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(2) what are the criteria for allocation of money under the New Opportunities Fund for cancer services; and what plans he has to increase the availability of cytotoxic drugs under this programme; [79181]
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