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Barnet Psychiatric Building
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the decision to replace the Barnet psychiatric building with a modern in-patient psychiatric unit will be implemented. [96628]
Mr. Hutton: Barnet Healthcare National Health Service Trust, in conjunction with Barnet Health Authority, is working to identify its preferred option for the future provision of mental health services in the east of the borough. Once this process is complete and the support of local commissioners has been obtained a business case will be submitted to the NHS Executive.
Primary Care Groups
Sir Peter Emery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funds he plans to give to primary care groups for prescribing. [96649]
Mr. Denham:
There are no plans to increase the unified allocations for health authorities for 1999-2000. No decisions have yet been taken about health authority allocations for 2000-01.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 652
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks to human health from xenotransplantations; and if he will make a statement. [96644]
Ms Stuart:
Xenotransplantation offers a possible solution to the current shortage of organs and tissue for transplantation. The Government, advised by the United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority, believes that a cautious, step by step, approach to the exploration of this technology is the right way to proceed. Evidence about the safety of xenotransplantation is kept under constant review by the UKXIRA, which offers advice to the Government on all xenotransplantation issues. Safety remains of paramount importance. Any clinical trial in xenotransplantation involving humans will be allowed to take place only when we are fully satisfied that the risk associated with the particular xenotransplantation procedure involved in the trial is acceptable.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 653
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the risks of taking oral corticosteroids for osteoporosis; and if he will make a statement. [96660]
Ms Stuart:
It is known that prolonged use of cortico- steroids is an important risk factor in the development of osteoporosis.
The Royal College of Physicians' evidence based "Clinical guidelines for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis" highlight this fact, as does the quick reference primary care guide issued by the Department. These documents recommend preventive strategies to help doctors with patients who present with this, and a range of other known risk factors.
In addition the National Osteoporosis Society have also published guidance on "The prevention and management of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis". This is also a useful resource for doctors and members of the public alike.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 654
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was for each category of continence product purchased by the NHS National Suppliers Trust in the year from February 1998 to January 1999 (a) the number of items purchased, (b) the total costs and (c) the percentage change in the number purchased from the previous year; and what estimate he has made of the proportion this represents of the total of such products, by category or overall, that are purchased by the NHS. [96078]
Mr. Hutton
[holding answer 1 November 1999]: Information from the National Health Service Supplies Authority is shown in the table. The information relates only to those products that the NHS obtains from NHS Supplies. It is estimated that NHS Supplies' sales represent around 50 per cent. of the total market, with about 30 per cent. of products being provided direct from a supplier to a patient's home and about 20 per cent. direct from supplier to an NHS trust.
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| Description | Total Quantity 1998-99 (Thousand) | Sales 1998-99 (£000) | Total Quantity 1997-98 (Thousand) | Sales 1997-98 (£000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disposable nappies | 11,909 | 1,638 | 11,370 | 1,615 |
| Incontinence pad, all in one | 20,119 | 7,160 | 20,691 | 7,961 |
| Incontinence pad, rectangular | 32,816 | 2,405 | 40,151 | 2,835 |
| Incontinence pad, shaped | 44,791 | 9,204 | 43,636 | 9,515 |
| Incontinence pad, underpad | 33,717 | 4,181 | 32,457 | 3,795 |
| Incontinence pants | 5,311 | 2,303 | 5,023 | 2,099 |
| Incontinence pads, reusable | 44 | 241 | 38 | 219 |
| Incontinence foam wash | 103 | 362 | 60 | 240 |
| Total | 148,810 | 27,494 | 153,426 | 28,279 |
Notes:
NHS Supplies only collect information by the financial year. The last two full years are shown.
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 653
All cost information includes Value Added Tax.
NHS Hearing Tests
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time is for an NHS hearing test in each health authority. [97221]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is not available centrally.
Territorial Army
Mr. Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which NHS hospitals employ doctors who are also members of the Territorial Army or reserve forces; and how many such doctors each of these hospitals employ; [97242]
- (2) how many NHS doctors are also reservists or members of the Territorial Army. [97243]
Mr. Denham: There are currently 440 doctors in the United Kingdom volunteer reserve medical forces. The further information requested is not available.
NHS Staff
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the results of the most recent
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 654
NHS hospital and community health services recruitment, retention and vacancy survey, broken down by NHS region. [97270]
Mr. Denham:
The detailed results, including an analysis by National Health Service region, of the recruitment, retention and vacancies survey will be published shortly.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to conclude his review of long-term care; and if he will make a statement. [97553]
Mr. Hutton:
The Royal Commission on Long Term Care was asked to examine the options for funding long-term care, including residential care for elderly people. We are carefully considering the Royal Commission's proposals, the divergences of view within the Royal Commission and the comments that have been made by various organisations and individuals. We will make an announcement in due course.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the Iceni Team Midwifery Group in Colchester; and if he will make a statement. [97447]
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 655
Mr. Denham:
We have received a significant amount of correspondence on this subject. The matter was also raised in an Adjournment Debate on Friday 5 November.
There will be no change to existing maternity services in north east Essex unless and until this has been determined by the outcome of a full and open consultation which will be led by North Essex Health Authority.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many team midwifery groups have been disbanded in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating the reasons given in each case; and if he will make a statement. [97452]
Mr. Denham:
Information on the number of team midwifery groups is not available centrally.
Ms Shipley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total level of resources he spent in the (a) current and (b) previous financial year to support 16 and 17-year-olds leaving local authority care. [97304]
Mr. Hutton:
Gross expenditure by local authorities in England on all children who have left local authority care was £23 million for 1997-98, the latest year for which information is available.
In addition, certain 16 and 17-year-olds leaving care are, like their peers, eligible for benefits. There are no centrally collected statistics on the benefits paid to 16 and 17-year-old care leavers.
Ms Shipley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total level of resources he spent in the (a) current and (b) previous financial year to support 16 and 17-year-olds in local authority care. [97302]
Mr. Hutton:
Information on the total level of resources to support 16 and 17-year-olds looked after by local authorities is not held centrally. Statistics for 1997-98, the latest year available, show that gross expenditure of £969 million was spent on all children looked after by local authorities in England. Provisional statistics on the numbers of children looked after by local authorities in England at 31 March show that for all age groups there were 55,300 children of whom 9,000 were 16 years and over.
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