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Cardiac Surgery (Hampshire)
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times are for major cardiac surgery in each area of Hampshire. [104163]
Mr. Denham:
The maximum waiting time for Hampshire cardiac patients is 15 months. The South East
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Office of the National Health Service Executive is currently discussing with local trusts measures to reduce the maximum waiting time to 12 months.
Mr. Rogers:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the National Framework for Heart Disease announced in November 1998. [104626]
Yvette Cooper:
We intend to publish the Framework shortly.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the items in the National Assets Register sold by his Department, its agencies and associated public bodies since 11 February 1999, stating in each case the amount of money realised; if he will estimate the total amount raised from such sales to date; and if he will make a statement. [104482]
Yvette Cooper:
Information on individual sales of assets disposed of by the Department, its agencies and associated public bodies is not held centrally.
| Financial year | Capital receipts--NHS assets |
|---|---|
| 1998-99 | 500 |
| Financial year | Capital receipts--NHS assets |
|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | 337 |
Drug Addicts
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department gives to abstinence as distinct from maintenance programmes for drug addicts; and if he will list the targets of these programmes and action taken in pursuit of them. [104870]
Yvette Cooper: The commissioning of services for drug misusers is essentially a matter for local discretion. Health authorities and local authorities will receive an extra £70.5 million over the next three years to commission and develop drug treatment services.
The Government believe that a range of treatments should be available to allow drug misusers to benefit from those most appropriate to their needs and abstinence should be the primary aim of treatment. Guidance on commissioning standards and on clinical management has been issued by the Department which makes clear that
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maintenance prescribing should not be a treatment of first choice in a patient presenting for the first time, where other options have not initially been tried.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what proportion of National Health Service general practices offered Well-man Clinics to their patients in (a) 1998 and (b) 1999; [104922]
Yvette Cooper:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the two pilot studies into a bowel cancer screening programme. [105071]
Yvette Cooper:
The two sites of the bowel cancer screening pilot have made considerable progress and screening is now expected to start in March. New staff have been appointed, clinical datasets and protocols are nearly complete and IT systems are now operational. Considerable time has also been spent preparing leaflets to give prospective patients the ability to make informed choices about participating in the pilot.
Dr. Stoate:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the National Radiological Protection Board has recommended as a safe level of radiation from mobile telecommunications masts. [104994]
Yvette Cooper:
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) provides exposure guidelines that cover the spectrum of radiowave emissions including the microwave frequencies transmitted by mobile telephone base stations. The specific levels depend upon the frequencies used by the operator. The latest advice on exposure guidelines in the United Kingdom can be found in the "Documents of the NRPB," Vol. 10, No. 2 (1999), entitled "Advice on the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300GHz)." Copies have been placed in the Library.
Measurements made by NRPB have shown radiowave strengths at ground level and in regions normally accessible to the public are very many times below UK exposure guidelines. The guideline levels can only be exceeded within a few metres directly in front and at the height of the antennas. NRPB is at present preparing a report on the base station measurements it has made. This should be published within the next few months.
Dr. Stoate:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he next plans to discuss levels of radiation from mobile telephone masts with the National Radiological Protection Board. [104995]
Yvette Cooper:
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) keeps the issue of exposure from mobile telephone masts under continuous review. In response to the guidelines of the International Commission on
27 Jan 2000 : Column: 333W
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) the NRPB published "Advice on the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300GHz)" in its series "Documents of the NRPB," Vol. 10, No. 2 (1999). Copies have been placed in the Library.
In April 1999, my right hon. Friend the former Minister for Public Health asked the National Radiological Protection Board to set up an Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones to assess the current scientific evidence. This Group, chaired by Sir William Stewart, FRS FRSE, is due to report in spring 2000. Government will be considering its findings together with the advice of the NRPB.
Dr. Stoate:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review with the National Radiological Protection Board their guidelines on safe levels of radiation from mobile telephone masts taking account of recent changes in the guidelines on such levels in Australia. [104993]
Yvette Cooper:
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) continues to keep under review its guidelines for the UK for restricting exposures to electric and magnetic fields. It does this based on its own review of the scientific information available taking into account advice from its Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation, chaired by Sir Richard Doll. It will also take into account any recommendations made by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, chaired by Sir William Stewart, that is expected to report in spring 2000. That group is considering all available evidence, both national and international.
NRPB last gave formal advice on exposure guidelines in 1999 in the "Documents of NRPB", Vol 10, No 2 entitled "Advice on the 1998 ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up to 300GHz)." Copies have been placed in the Library. This was in response to the revised guidelines issued by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 1998.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with health managers in (a) Australia and (b) Sweden concerning the effect of Relenza on the incidence of influenza this winter. [104899]
Yvette Cooper:
None. Relenza is currently licensed only for the treatment of influenza, not its prevention.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence issued clear advice last year on the use of Relenza. This advice is for this year (1999-2000) only and NICE will review the available evidence, wherever it comes from, in a full appraisal this year, in time to offer guidance to the NHS for the 2000-01 flu season. All available evidence will be carefully considered as part of this appraisal.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what supplies of influenza vaccine are held within the North Essex Health Authority by the authority itself, its trusts and by its GPs; and if he will estimate the number of patients this will treat. [105281]
Yvette Cooper:
The information requested is not available centrally.
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Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with health authorities concerning the availability of influenza vaccine and the promotion of its use. [104911]
Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The aim of the influenza immunisation policy is to protect those at greatest risk of severe or complicated illness before flu viruses begin to circulate in the community. Ideally people who are in the risk groups recommended for vaccine should have been immunised by now. Flu immunisation delivery is through general practice and general practitioners who order the vaccine direct from the manufacturers. Flu immunisation was well-publicised last autumn and local and national campaigns were run to try and improve vaccination rates. The Chief Medical Officer held a press conference and wrote to GPs about flu immunisation. Circulars on winter planning stressed to health authorities the importance of promoting flu immunisation as part of this planning and as part of the winter 1999-2000 campaign the National Health Service Executive sent all health authorities an information pack to encourage local activity.
(2) how many Well-man Clinics were held in National Health Service general practices in 1999. [104921]
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