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Emergency Contraception
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to general practitioners regarding prescribing of emergency contraception prospectively. [93877]
Yvette Cooper: There is no guidance to general practitioners dealing exclusively with the advance prescribing of hormonal emergency contraception. This is a matter for clinical judgment. The responsibility for deciding what treatment is best for the patient rests with the doctors concerned, in consultation with the patient and informed by the patient's history.
Health Development Agency
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the proposed Health Development Agency will be established. [93872]
Yvette Cooper: We are currently considering options for establishing a new Health Development Agency and succeed the Health Education Authority. However, we anticipate that the Health Development Agency will be launched early in the New Year, subject to parliamentary approval.
Benzodiazepine
Mr. Woolas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish respite care and detoxification units for people who are addicted to benzodiazepine drugs. [93727]
Yvette Cooper: Decisions about the commissioning of drug treatment services are made locally by health and local authorities on the basis of local need. Assessment of the need for specialist services, such as particular services for users of benzodiazepines, should inform these commissioning decisions.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government routinely record the occupation of people in whom infection with bovine tuberculosis is identified. [94536]
Yvette Cooper: Information on the occupation of individuals notified with tuberculosis in England and Wales is sought on the standard notification form. This information is used locally.
Reports of M.bovis infections are collated by the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre as part of a scheme called in the UK Mycobacterial Resistance Network (Mycobnet). On receipt of a report of M.bovis infection, a questionnaire is sent to the local consultant in communicable disease control inquiring, among other things, about whether the individual had an agricultural occupation (including working on a farm) or other animal contact.
25 Oct 1999 : Column: 750
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of human tuberculosis and bovine tuberculosis were confirmed in humans in 1997 and 1998. [94535]
Yvette Cooper:
A total of 5,859 cases of tuberculosis were notified in England and Wales in 1997 and 6,087 in 1998. 3,229 and 3,456 respectively were microbiologically confirmed. Of these confirmed cases, 29 cases in 1997 were due to M.bovis infection and 32 cases in 1998.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include in the code of conduct for the General Social Care Council a requirement to establish and publish plans for monitoring the extent of (a) violence and (b) stress experienced by social workers, and to recommend to Government what action is necessary to minimise such pressures on social workers. [94721]
Mr. Hutton:
We are determined to reduce substantially the incidence of violence towards everyone working in social care. We have set up a task force to produce a National Action Plan by November 2000 with recommendations and timescales for action to reduce violence against social care staff and to promote the safety and welfare of social care workers. We will also ensure that in drawing up its code of practice for employers the General Social Care Council includes practical references to dealing with violence.
Mr. Baldry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make an announcement on the proposals by Oxfordshire health authority for reorganisation of community health facilities in Oxfordshire and the Bicester community hospital. [94939]
Mr. Denham:
We fully recognise the concerns of the local community on such an important issue.
We are carefully considering all options before reaching a final decision on the future arrangements for community hospitals in Oxfordshire and the future of Bicester Community Hospital.
Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage greater awareness of allergy to latex among (a) health professionals and (b) the general public; and what research in this area he is supporting. [94949]
Mr. Denham:
The Department is aware of the problems associated with latex allergy for patients and healthcare workers in the National Health Service. The NHS Executive has recently issued guidance to all NHS trusts and health authorities on reducing the risk of allergic reaction to latex. This follows recommendations made to the Health Service in 1996 (Medical Devices Agency DB9601) which was re-issued with further advice in 1998 (Medical Devices Agency SN9825). The Department is an active participant in the European Commission Working Group which is investigating issues surrounding the use of medical devices made of latex and is also funding a study into the prevention of occupational skin disease in the workplace.
25 Oct 1999 : Column: 751
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to fund further clinical trails of beta interferon if NICE were to recommend them. [95157]
Mr. Denham:
Each case will be considered on its merits, but the presumption will be that research which is reasonably required to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of products for use in the NHS should be funded by the relevant company. Under certain circumstances, some funding from the public sector may be appropriate, for example where there is no clear sponsoring company for an intervention to be appraised by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. The Department will make sure that, under such circumstances, any research falling to the public purse is taken forward by the appropriate body.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the responses to the consultation on the paper, "Faster access to modern treatment", on (a) the composition of the NICE appraisal group and (b) the format of NICE guidance. [95182]
Mr. Denham:
Some 75 respondents to the discussion paper "Faster access to modern treatment" commented on aspects of the composition of the appraisal group and 25 on the format of the guidance. We are unable to list individual respondents since the invitation to comment did not seek permission for the detailed nature of the responses to be made public.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the groups that represent the interests of the disabled that are on the advisory body of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [R] [95705]
Mr. Hutton:
The Partners' Council of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has representatives from the following eight organisations:
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the eligibility criteria for former child migrants as to their entitlement to support for (a) air fares and (b) living allowance; [95155]
25 Oct 1999 : Column: 752
Mr. Hutton:
The eligibility criteria for access to the Support Fund are kept under regular review. Demand is currently running at a level which suggests that the Fund will be fully subscribed with the current criteria, which are designed to give priority to reuniting close family members.
Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales
Carers National Association
Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance
Patients Association
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Association of Welsh Community Health Councils
The Relatives Association
National Consumer Council.
A further four members of the Partners' Council are patient representatives, chosen for their experience and expertise as either patients or carers. The Institute's board of directors has two non-executive members who have special interest in the needs of carers.
(2) what plans he has to allow former child migrants whose nearest living relatives are cousins to qualify for support to return to the United Kingdom. [95156]
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