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MS Patients
Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a specialist nurse service for multiple sclerosis patients along the lines of the breast care nurse scheme. [83362]
Mr. Hutton: The Department currently has no plans to establish a specialist nursing service for multiple sclerosis patients. We welcome the spirit of partnership with the voluntary sector shown by the recently launched Multiple Sclerosis Society initiatives to jointly fund nursing posts for patients with MS. It is, however, for the National Health Service locally to decide whether to pursue this initiative in the light of their local needs and priorities.
Kosovar Refugees
Mr. Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the demands on the health service arising from Kosovar refugees arriving in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement; [83737]
- (2) what percentage of Kosovar refugees he estimates will need NHS (a) primary care and (b) hospital treatment within one month of arrival; [83738]
(3) if he will meet the Secretary of State for the Home Department to discuss what account should be taken of existing health authority waiting lists in determining where Kosovar refugees are placed. [83739]
Mr. Hutton: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in the House on 5 May 1999, Official Report, columns 943, that the United Kingdom is prepared to give temporary protection to several thousand refugees from Kosovo. The National Health Service is expected to play its part in preparing for this and stands ready to do what is necessary to identify refugees' health problems and provide appropriate treatment.
For the majority of refugees, individual health problems are not known until they are examined, either on arrival or soon afterwards. All refugees are being registered with a general practitioner as a matter of course. So far, more than 900 people have arrived in the UK, and experience suggests that many of those still to come will have primary healthcare needs, either now or in the near future and a few will need hospital treatment.
18 May 1999 : Column: 318
We have also agreed to accept a small number of priority medical cases, with their immediate family members, who meet the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' criteria for medical evacuation. No such cases have been received so far. We anticipate that careful selection of UK hospitals for any priority patients that do come will ensure that any impact on existing NHS waiting lists is kept to a minimum.
Mr. Barron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in his Department's review of the services available under the domiciliary oxygen service; how many outside organisations have been consulted; when he expects the review to be completed; and if he will publish its findings. [84038]
Mr. Hutton:
We expect to be in a position to seek views from organisations and companies interested in the provision of the Domiciliary Oxygen Therapy Service once forthcoming guidelines from the Royal College of Physicians have been published. The timetable and the extent to which the review's conclusions will be made public are currently being considered.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the Government's response to the report of the Royal Commission into long-term care. [83979]
Mr. Hutton:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 4 May 1999, Official Report, columns 360-61.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to promote a public debate on the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission on long-term care. [84544]
Mr. Hutton:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave him on 1 March 1999, Official Report, columns 746-67.
18 May 1999 : Column: 319
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health which members of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Partners' Council are (a) disabled and (b) from organisations representing the disabled. [84101]
Mr. Hutton:
Potential members of the Partners' Council were not required to declare if they had a disability.
There are eight members of the Partners' Council who come from organisations which represent patients (including those with disabilities).
The organisations concerned are:
Mr. Soley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people from ethnic minorities between the ages of (a) 16 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45 and (d) 45 years and over are currently sectioned under the Mental Health Acts in England and Wales; [84113]
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not available centrally.
The revised Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice, published in March 1999, contains new guidance for health authorities and National Health Service trusts to keep records of the ethnicity of all patients admitted under the Act, and to establish systems to monitor admissions by race and sex.
Mr. Soley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to monitor adherence to the guidelines issued by his Department on the use of ECT; [84218]
Mr. Hutton:
Guidance on the use and safety of electro-convulsive therapy is issued by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and it is for the profession to monitor how well their guidance is being applied. ECT is an effective treatment particularly for patients with severe depression. The proper application of ECT and its procedures is an important issue for patients, for psychiatrists and for
18 May 1999 : Column: 320
mental health services of the National Health Service. To emphasise this point, a joint letter signed by the Chief Medical Officer and the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has been sent to all Consultant Psychiatrists in the NHS, all health authorities and NHS trusts. The letter states that, as part of the new clinical governance arrangements, both the Chief Medical Officer and the President of the College expect the guidance to be applied so as to improve standards in the area.
Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress on (a) the development of improved financial arrangements for 16 to 18-year-old people leaving care and (b) the proposed new duty on local authorities to assess and meet the needs of care leavers up to the age of 18 years. [84370]
Mr. Hutton:
As announced in The Government's Response to the Children's Safeguards Review on 5 November 1998, the Government intend legislating to extend and strengthen the statutory responsibilities of local authorities to provide after care support.
The Government will shortly publish a consultation paper setting out new arrangements for 16 and 17-year-olds who are in care or care leavers which will clarify responsibility and improve financial support for this particularly vulnerable group. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Once responses to the consultation paper have been considered, the Government will take forward any legislatory changes as soon as Parliamentary time allows. In the meantime, the Government issued guidance to local authorities in April asking them to take steps now to improve services for care leavers (LAC(99)16).
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84190]
Ms Jowell:
Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial year 1997-98 and 1998-99 was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on 'The Government Information and Communications Service' (HC 770) in July 1998, copies of which are available in the Library. The number in post at 1 May 1999 was 14.2
Carers National Association
A further four members of the Partners' Council are patient representatives, chosen for their experience and expertise as either patients or carers.
Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance
Patients Association
The Relatives Association
National Consumer Council
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales
Association of Welsh CHCs.
(2) how many people in London from ethnic minorities between the ages of (a) 16 to 25, (b) 26 to 35, (c) 36 to 45 and (d) over 45 years are currently sectioned under the Mental Health Acts. [84115]
(2) what audit he had carried out of the safety of ECT treatment in clinics; and if he will make a statement. [84112]
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