| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Vaccinations
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS of vaccinating persons prior to their travelling abroad in the last year for which figures are available. [104134]
Yvette Cooper: It is not possible to give a total figure for the cost of immunisation for the purpose of travel abroad each year. Records are not kept of the numbers of people immunised and data on prescription items are limited as they do not differentiate between vaccine given for travel or for other reasons and they do not differentiate between primary courses (usually consisting of several doses of vaccine) and booster doses. The number of prescription items dispensed in England and the net ingredient costs for vaccines that may be given for the purposes of travel are given in the table.
| Year | Total number of prescription items (millions) | Total cost (£ million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 3.4 | 40.5 |
| 1995 | 3.3 | 47.0 |
| 1996 | 3.3 | 49.1 |
| 1997 | 3.3 | 52.4 |
| 1998 | 3.1 | 52.0 |
(25) The travel vaccines are those preparations in the British National Formulary (BNF) (issue 38, September 1999) section 14.6--International travel: BCG, diphtheria, hepatitis A, meningococcal A&C, normal immunoglobulin, poliomyelitis, typhoid, and yellow fever. Some of these vaccines will have been prescribed for reasons other than travel.
Notes:
1. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.
2. The net ingredient cost refers to the cost of the drug before discounts and does no include any dispensing costs or fees.
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 100W
Infectious Diseases
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost to the NHS of treating patients in the UK for infectious diseases contracted in other countries in the last year for which figures are available. [104133]
Yvette Cooper: Information on the cost to the National Health Service from travel-related infection is not held centrally. Information on the numbers of all diseases notifiable under various Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations in England and Wales are published in the Public Health Laboratory Service's Communicable Disease Statistics England and Wales. Where known, numbers of cases of diseases contracted abroad are given, but this information is not reliably reported. Copies are available in the Library.
Lung Cancer
Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the last year for which figures are available, how many people in each NHS region who are receiving palliative chemotherapy to relieve the symptoms of inoperable non-small lung cancer are aged (a) under 29, (b) 30 to 49, (c) 50 to 64, (d) 65 to 74, (e) 75 to 84 and (f) 85 years and over. [103950]
Yvette Cooper: Information on the number of people in each NHS region receiving palliative chemotherapy for inoperable non-small cell lung cancer by age group is not available.
Evidence based guidance "Improving Outcomes in Lung Cancer" published in June 1998 has been sent to all commissioners and providers of lung cancer services and concentrates on those aspects of services which are likely to have a significant impact on health outcomes. The guidance is intended to support the ongoing implementation of the Calman/Hine report. The guidance makes it clear that palliative care should be an integral part of patient management for all lung cancer patients from the outset, including chemotherapy where appropriate.
Neurology Treatment
Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his target for the maximum waiting time to see a consultant neurologist; what is the current waiting period for Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [104506]
Mr. Denham: There is no specific target for individual specialities. Over a third of all patients have their first outpatient appointment within 4 weeks of being referred by their general practitioner. We are, however, determined to modernise services and reduce the number of patients waiting longer than thirteen weeks for their first outpatient appointment.
Figures are not collected on the average waiting period of patients for a first outpatient appointment but figures are available on the length of time patients waited to be seen following a GP written referral. The latest figures available are for Quarter 2 (quarter ending 30 September 1999), and are given in the table.
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 101W
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 0-3 weeks | 31 |
| 4-under 13 weeks | 40 |
| 13-under 26 weeks | 21 |
| Over 26 weeks | 36 |
Source:
Form QM08--completed by the Trust quarterly.
Heart Disease
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of deaths per year (a) in total and (b) of heart patients which would be avoided if those diagnosed with heart disease were legally required to comply with prescribed medical treatment; [104763]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the number of deaths per year (a) in total and (b) of diabetics which would be avoided if those with a diagnosis of heart disease were legally required to comply with prescribed medical treatment. [104762]
Mr. Denham: No such estimates have been made.
Diabetics
Mrs. Brinton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of insulin-dependent diabetics failed to comply with medically prescribed treatment in the last year for which figures are available. [104761]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is not available centrally.
NHS Litigation Authority
Dr. Brand: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average delay in reimbursement by the NHS Litigation Authority in the last 12 months; and how much is owed to each health authority. [105504]
Mr. Denham: The average time taken to reimburse health authorities and National Health Service trusts during this period was 1.8 months. However, the most recent figures indicate that the NHS Litigation Authority is currently meeting its target of dealing with cases within 30 days of receiving a correctly completed payment request form. It is not possible to state how much is owed to each health authority since this will change on a day-to-day basis.
Babies (Heroin Addiction)
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies born in each health authority area in England in each of the last five years have been dependent at birth upon heroin or heroin substitutes. [105256]
Ms Stuart: The information requested is not available centrally.
Generic Drugs
Mr. Dobbin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to control the cost and availability of generic drugs. [105508]
24 Jan 2000 : Column: 102W
Ms Stuart:
We are determined to ensure that the supply of generic medicines to the National Health Service is reliable and delivers value for money. We have put in place a fundamental review of the generic medicines market to consider how we can best achieve these and related objectives. The review is under way and conclusions are expected in the summer.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) morphine and (b) diamorphine by (i) weight and (ii) cost the NHS has purchased in each of the last 10 years. [105354]
Ms Stuart:
The information requested is shown in the tables.
| Morphine salts | Diamorphine hydrochloride | |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 362.1 | 67.5 |
| 1990 | 410.3 | 72.8 |
| 1991 | 526.1 | 140.8 |
| 1992 | 572.5 | 133.0 |
| 1993 | 595.3 | 119.3 |
| 1994 | 664.4 | 128.5 |
| 1995 | 698.6 | 128.9 |
| 1996 | 728.7 | 119.9 |
| 1997 | 762.2 | 116.5 |
| 1998 | 819.2 | 114.6 |
| Morphine salts | Diamorphine hydrochloride | |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5,745.9 | 2,204.8 |
| 1990 | 6,734.7 | 3,418.2 |
| 1991 | 8,653.0 | 3,583.0 |
| 1992 | 9,835.4 | 3,612.4 |
| 1993 | 10,489.1 | 3,593.4 |
| 1994 | 11,414.9 | 3,755.6 |
| 1995 | 12,069.9 | 3,854.6 |
| 1996 | 12,328.9 | 3,822.9 |
| 1997 | 13,009.9 | 3,747.5 |
| 1998 | 13,931.2 | 3,808.1 |
Notes:
Please note that the data up to 1990 are not strictly consistent with data from 1991 onwards. Figures for 1989 and 1990 are based on fees and on a sample of 1 in 200 prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors only. Figures for 1991 onwards are based on items and cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug and does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |