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Patient Satisfaction Survey
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on publishing patient satisfaction survey results for each NHS trust. [89084]
Mr. Denham: The Government are committed to publishing national and local results of the national survey of National Health Service patients. As part of this programme, a survey of patients with coronary heart disease is underway, and we expect to publish headline results in due course.
Health Products
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to health specialists on the altered status of particular health substances following the Government's consultation document MLX 249. [89290]
Ms Jowell: No guidance is required. The proposals in the consultation document MLX 249 will not alter the status or classification of health products.
Processed Food (Salt Content)
Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his discussions with the food industry on reducing the salt content of processed food. [89298]
Ms Jowell: Following initial discussions between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food/Department of Health Joint Food Safety and Standards Group and the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) which represents the food and drink manufacturing industry) to explore the scope for broadening public choice in, and reducing, the salt content of processed foods, the FDF has announced that it will be conducting a systematic review of the purpose and usage of sodium in manufactured foods. We have welcomed this review.
Millennium Compliance (West Kent)
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that the computer systems in use by the West Kent Health Authority are millennium compliant and that hospital and health provision will not be affected on 1 January 2000; [89185]
- (2) what steps he has taken to ensure that the computer systems in use by the Kent Ambulance Service are millennium compliant and that emergency services will not be affected on 1 January 2000. [89184]
Mr. Denham:
Detailed local arrangements for the National Health Service and social services in planning for winter 1999-2000 including the millennium period were set out in a joint circular to the National Health Service and Social Services (LAC(99)15) in April 1999. Copies are available in the Library.
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Kent Ambulance NHS Trust and West Kent Health Authority are making good progress towards ensuring year 2000 compliance.
Progress is monitored quarterly by the National Health Service Executive to ensure robust arrangements are in place to deliver services for the coming winter including the millennium period.
Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on therapeutic cloning of human tissue. [89181]
Ms Jowell:
The use of cloning techniques on non- embryonic human cells and tissue is a long-established medical practice for the treatment of serious disorders. This may include treatment using vaccines developed with cloning technology, or tissue grants such as skin for burn victims.
In December 1998 the joint Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC) and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) report "Cloning Issues in Reproduction, Science and Medicine" was published. The Report recommended, among other things, that the Government should consider making regulations under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 to extend the purposes for which human embryos may be used in research to include particular therapeutic purposes.
The Government's response to the joint HGAC/HFEA report, 24 June 1999, Official Report, column 436, reaffirmed their policy that human reproductive cloning is ethically unacceptable and cannot take place in this country. However, we recognise that the recommendation to extend the regulations to allow research for particular therapeutic purposes should be very carefully considered. We believe that more evidence is required of the need for using human embryos in such research, its potential benefits and risks and also that account should be taken of alternative approaches that might achieve the same ends.
We announced that a group chaired by the Chief Medical Officer would be set up to examine these issues and report early next year. We expect to announce the membership of that group shortly.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes (a) to monitor the cost of agency recruited nurses and (b) to give guidance to health purchasers on appropriate charges for agency nurses. [89383]
Ms Jowell:
The National Health Service Executive is working with the Social Partnership Forum to review the use of bank and agency staff and the alternative approaches to employment flexibility, with a view to recommending good practice guidance to NHS employers.
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Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost to the NHS in London of (a) hiring a nurse through an agency and (b) recruiting a nurse of comparable grade through the NHS. [89382]
Mr. Denham:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Cummings:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the letter dated 1 February sent by the Chief Executive of the NHS to NHS trusts and health authorities concerning pay for staff in 1999-2000. [89587]
Mr. Denham:
Copies of the letter have been placed in the Library.
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the formal review of Read Codes 3 will take place. [89651]
Mr. Denham:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt) on 14 April 1999, Official Report, columns 270-71.
The independent evaluation of the Read Codes is taking place in the following three stages.
The first stage has been completed, and copies of the report are available in the Library. A contract has been awarded after open competition to First Consulting Group for the second stage. The methodology for the evaluation of clinical terminology will be developed by September 1999. It will then be rigorously trialled in the National Health Service in preparation for stage 3.
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices are using Read Codes Version 3. [89647]
Mr. Denham:
Records indicate that 41 software system suppliers to the National Health Service have licences giving them access to Version 3 of the Read Codes (CTV3). Suppliers are building systems to support CTV3 to underpin the development of the Electronic Patients Record in full. Current software in common use by general practitioners is based on earlier versions of the Read Codes.
The NHS Executive intends to mandate the use of a coded clinical terminology (currently Clinical Terms Version 3 (Read Codes)) which is a central plank of the NHS Information Management and Technology Strategy "Information for Health", published in September 1998. This is a pre-requisite for the development of the Electronic Health record which is the cornerstone of the strategy.
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Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis Mr. Roger Browell was selected for the Phase 1 Read Codes Review. [89656]
Mr. Denham:
Roger Browell was selected for the Phase 1 Read Codes evaluation via the Strategic Assignment Consultancy Service (SACS) of the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency (CCTA).
SACS is an established service whereby CCTA procures consultants with a wide experience of Information Services and Information Technology. CCTA was asked to procure an independent consultant with no previous input to the work area in order to maintain independence.
Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts are using Read Codes Version 3 on a hospital-wide basis; and in which hospitals. [89646]
Mr. Denham:
Licensing records indicate that 41 software system suppliers to the National Health Service and 149 NHS trusts have access to Version 3 of the Read Codes. Records also indicate that the Version 2 terms in a Version 3 file format is used in Scotland and by one system supplier with several sites in England.
Dr. Naysmith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to use his order-making powers under schedule 3 of the Health Bill [Lords]. [89464]
Mr. Denham:
The powers in Section 60 of what is now the Health Act 1999 allow for the regulation of new professions and the strengthening of existing regulatory schemes by Order. We intend to use these powers to fulfil our commitment to work with the professions to strengthen and modernise the existing systems of health professional self-regulation.
(i) An assessment of the need for clinical terminology and the robustness of Clinical Terms Version 3 against alternatives;
(ii) Development of a methodology for evaluating clinical codes in use;
(iii) A process of continuous evaluation in live use in clinical practice.
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