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HEALTH
Cosmetic Surgery
15. Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the regulation of private cosmetic surgery. [106252]
Ms Stuart: We have received a number of representations about the need to regulate more effectively premises where cosmetic surgery and laser treatment for cosmetic purposes are provided.
We recognise that greater assurance for the public is needed about the safety and quality of the treatment being provided in this area. We therefore intend to introduce improved regulation of independent healthcare services, including premises where cosmetic surgery is performed, medical treatment is provided under anaesthesia or sedation, and where certain laser treatment is provided. These measures are included in the provisions of our Care Standards Bill. Our aim is to achieve more effective regulation to assure the quality of private cosmetic surgery, the adequacy of information for patients and would-be patients, the safety of the technology and equipment used, including laser treatment, and the effectiveness of complaints procedures when things do go wrong. We are confident that this will provide the enhanced safeguards and assurance of standards in private cosmetic surgery.
Beta Interferon
16. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to publish its guidance on the use of beta interferon in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. [106253]
Mr. Denham: The work programme for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was announced on 4 November 1999. The timing of the appraisal is a matter for NICE to determine subject to wider discussion with stakeholders. I understand the results of NICE's deliberations on beta interferon will be available in late summer this year.
Ovarian Cancer
18. Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department provides for ovarian cancer research. [106255]
Yvette Cooper:
The Government spent approximately over £1 million in 1998-99 on directly commissioned research projects relating to ovarian cancer.
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The Department also supports research in the National Health Service funded by research councils and charities. It is estimated that over £1 million of this is supporting ovarian cancer research.
The Medical Research Council has been working with a number of cancer charities to set up a major study of screening on ovarian cancer. An announcement will be made shortly.
19. Ms Ryan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NHS Direct in meeting patient needs. [106256]
Ms Stuart:
NHS Direct has proved to be very effective in meeting patients' needs. Sheffield University's independent interim evaluation of the first three NHS Direct pilot sites found that overall 97 per cent. of callers surveyed were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service they received. Out of those callers triaged by a nurse, nurses advise two out of three callers to a more appropriate setting of care than the caller said they would otherwise have used.
26. Dr. Palmer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact to date on access to health care of the NHS Direct service. [106263]
Ms Stuart:
NHS Direct is improving access to health care by advising callers which part of the NHS to contact. NHS Direct nurses advise two out of three callers to use a more appropriate setting of care than the caller said they would otherwise have used. One in three callers are advised how to look after themselves at home. Over the holiday period, NHS Direct handled over 200,000 calls: if NHS Direct had not been available, many of these callers would have contacted other NHS services, including accident and emergency departments and the ambulance services at a time when these services were very hard pressed.
20. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implementation of the programme to ensure that patients with cancer do not have to wait to see a specialist. [106257]
Yvette Cooper:
We are ending long waits for outpatient appointments. By the end of 2000 we will have put the necessary arrangements in place to enable patients with suspected cancer referred urgently by their GP to be seen by a specialist within two weeks.
21. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of vibration white finger treated by the NHS in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [106258]
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Mr. Denham:
The incidence of vibration white finger (VWF) treated by the National Health Service is not recorded. Hospital admissions for VWF will be included in those people having 'cervical sympathectomy', the surgical procedure to treat it. These figures were:
22. Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the impact of the recent flu outbreak on the NHS. [106259]
Yvette Cooper:
The incidence of flu, along with other acute respiratory illness, has put very real pressure on NHS services this winter, but the NHS is dealing with these pressures. The peaks in demand are being managed better than previously, with NHS staff--in both primary care and the hospitals sector--working well to manage the current pressures.
23. Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in waiting times for hospital operations in the last three months. [106260]
Mr. Denham:
Waiting times fell in the last three months for which data are available. Since August 1999 the average length of time patients were waiting for inpatient treatment has fallen from about 13 weeks to about 12 weeks in November 1999.
24. Mr. Kidney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he is making in improving hospitals accident and emergency departments. [106261]
Ms Stuart:
Last year, we announced a £115 million programme to modernise and upgrade all accident and emergency departments which needed it. Of the 244 schemes planned, over a quarter (27.5 per cent.) have now been completed. About half of the schemes will be finished by April, and some 80 per cent. by July.
25. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future provision of services currently available at the Lichfield Victoria Hospital and the Hammerwich Hospital in South Staffordshire. [106262]
Yvette Cooper:
The hon. Member will be aware that South Staffordshire Health Authority is currently undertaking a wide ranging strategic review of services. I understand that the Health Authority is still working-up proposals, and as such it would not be possible for me to
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comment at this time on the future provision of services at Lichfield Victoria Hospital and the Hammerwich Hospital.
27. Mr. Crausby:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he is making with the development of primary care groups. [106264]
Mr. Denham:
481 Primary Care Groups began on 1 April 1999 and are making excellent progress in bringing GPs, nurses, health professionals and social services together to deliver better services for their local population. 68 Primary Care Groups have also made applications to gain Primary Care Trust status this year and I have recently announced the first 17 to start from 1 April 2000.
28. Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop services for people suffering from dementia. [106265]
Mr. Hutton:
Improving mental health services in the National Health Service is a priority for this Government. The Department also works closely with organisations such as the Alzheimer's Society, Dementia Relief Trust and the Dementia Services Development Centres who provide advice and support to users, their carers and those developing local services.
The work for the National Service Framework for Older People covers mental health including dementia. We expect to be publishing the National Service Framework later this year.
29. Mr. Gapes:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to increase the recruitment and retention of nurses. [106266]
Mr. Denham:
We are committed to help the National Health Service recruit the extra nurses it needs to deliver modern and dependable care.
Last month (January), we announced an above inflation pay award of 3.4 per cent. for all nurses, with additional increases for experienced staff nurses of 7.8 per cent.
As a result of last year's national recruitment campaign, over 5,000 nurses are returning to the NHS, and applications for nursing degree courses are up by 24 per cent.
I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that we will be launching this year's national recruitment campaign on 28 February. The campaign will include high profile TV and press advertising, and will target those areas of the country with the most pressing vacancies.
The Government are also making progress on modernising services and modernising employment practice in the NHS to retain nurses. Through our national nursing strategy, "Making a Difference", the NHS is developing flexible and family friendly working practices; extending and improving investment in lifelong learning and professional development, and tackling violence and racism in the workplace.
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1993: 391
1994: 379
1995: 467
1996: 487
1997: 301.
Recent research by the Medical Research Council estimates that 242,000 adults in Britain suffer from cold-induced finger blanching as a result of exposure to hand-arm vibration at work.
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