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Learning Disabilities
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what revisions of continuing care agreements have taken place following the Coughlan Appeal Court decision and his Department's instructions that these agreements should be reviewed; and, in particular, what changes have been made in relation to health and social service provision for people with learning disabilities. [110173]
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is not available centrally. We have asked all health authorities to review their eligibility criteria for continuing health care following the Coughlan judgment. Where authorities revise eligibility criteria following any review, they should consider what action they need to take to reassess service users against the revised criteria contained in HSC
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1999/180: LAC(99) 30. The guidance applies to all client groups including people with learning disabilities. Initial monitoring suggests that in only a few cases are there legal problems with these. We are continuing to monitor the situation.
Dan Norris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records he keeps centrally of assaults upon (a) hospital staff and (b) social workers. [110234]
Mr. Denham:
The National Health Service Executive conducted a survey of violence in NHS trusts in 1998-99. The survey found that, on average, seven violent incidents were recorded each month per 1,000 staff. This is equivalent to approximately 65,000 violent incidents against NHS Trust staff each year. Details of the survey can be found in Health Service Circular 1999/229: "Managing Violence, Accidents and Sickness Absence in the NHS", copies of which are in the Library.
A cross-Government campaign, "NHS zero tolerance zone", was launched last October to tackle violence against staff working in the NHS. The campaign is underpinned by National Improving Targets for reducing incidents of violence against NHS staff by 20 per cent. by 2001 and 30 per cent. by 2003.
Information about the number of incidents of violence against social workers is not collected centrally. However, we are determined to reduce substantially the incidence of violence towards everyone working in social care. We have set up a taskforce 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.
In particular, the taskforce will advise the Department on the setting of targets that social care employees will be set for the reduction of violence against social care staff, and the arrangements for monitoring of progress. They will also advise social care employers on the development, implementation and monitoring of strategies to reduce violence, to train the workforce in handling confrontational situations, and to support staff who have been the victims of violent incidents.
Dr. Brand:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on the availability of stoma nurses of a price reduction in stoma appliances. [110931]
Mr. Denham:
None. Neither the Department nor the manufacturers of stoma appliances have proposed such reductions.
Mr. Breed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to improve access to (a) day care, (b) residential care and (c) recreational clubs for the elderly in rural areas; [110780]
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Mr. Hutton:
We are committed to ensuring that access to social care services is not limited by where people live.
Last year the social services inspectorate published "Care in the Country", which reported on community care arrangements for older people and people with disabilities in eight rural shire counties. While the report highlights the ways in which rurality can sometimes make it difficult to deliver services it highlights many examples of good practice and offers councils key messages to consider and a checklist to use in evaluating their own services.
One of the aims of the Fair Access to Care Services guidance, which will be issued for consultation in the summer, will be to set out the principles authorities should follow when devising and applying eligibility criteria for social care services. This will ensure more consistency around the country in the way people are judged eligible for services.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional funding the London Regional Office of the NHS Executive plans to make to the London Ambulance Service to assist it to meet its performance targets; and if he will make a statement. [110696]
Ms Stuart:
The National Health Service Executive, London Regional Office will be providing extra funding to the London Ambulance Service to assist it to meet its performance target. The London Regional Office is currently working with the health authorities and the London Ambulance Service to agree a plan for 2000-01 and beyond.
Mrs. Dean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on adequacy of NHS chiropody services in East Staffordshire. [110731]
Mr. Hutton:
There are no specific problems regarding access to chiropody services in East Staffordshire. A three month pilot scheme is currently taking place within my hon. Friend's constituency of Burton, which places greater emphasis on referral of patients on the basis of clinical priority and need, as opposed to age.
Mr. Ennis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish a 24-hour national helpline for carers. [110736]
Mr. Hutton:
There are currently no plans to establish a 24-hour national help-line specifically for carers on a 24-hour basis. Information on National Health Service services is available through NHS Direct, and the Department is presently funding the Carers National Helpline.
Mr. McCabe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he can report on the pilot projects which are evaluating digital hearing aids. [110814]
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Mr. Hutton:
Steps to finalise the details of project planning are currently taking place. We plan to write to National Health Service trusts and health authorities shortly, seeking applications to be involved in the project. The scheme is scheduled to start in April 2000.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidences there have been in NHS trusts of transfusions of the wrong type of blood to patients in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [110832]
Mr. Denham:
In 1997-98, the Serious Hazards of Transfusion scheme for the confidential audit of adverse transfusion incidents (SHOT) analysed 114 reports where a patient was transfused with an incorrect blood component. In 88 of these cases the patient survived with no ill effects, but two patients died and 20 patients suffered short term or continuing ill effects. Four patients were reported to have died from the underlying condition.
We have required NHS trusts to participate in SHOT, to ensure that hospitals transfusion committees are in place to oversee all aspects of blood transfusion, and to agree local transfusion protocols. We are determined to secure the highest standards across the country at all stages of the blood transfusion chain.
Mr. O'Hara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which local authorities have made representations to his Department on section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 following the High Court judgment R v. London Borough of Richmond ex parte Watson and have been advised not to charge for section 117 services; [110981]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 18 January 2000, Official Report, column 423W, on the Mental Health Act 1983, if there continues to be a variation in practice between local authorities; [110980]
(4) what research has been undertaken by (a) his Department and (b) local authorities to establish the cost if local authorities ceased to charge for residential care under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983, in line with the High Court judgment R v. London Borough of Richmond ex parte Watson. [110979]
Mr. Hutton:
On 10 February 2000 the Department issued a circular to local authorities and health authorities in England drawing attention to the High Court judgment R v. London Borough of Richmond ex parte Wilson (HSC 2000/003: LAC (2000)3). Local authorities still charging for services provided as part of after-care under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 are advised that they should immediately cease to do so. This is consistent with previous informal advice given by the Department and with the response to recent representations by the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) on this issue made on behalf of local authorities. We have no detailed information about which local authorities have continued to charge since the High Court judgment nor
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the cost to local authorities of ceasing to charge. I understand that ADSS has issued a questionnaire to local authorities on this issue but am not aware of the results of that survey.
(2) what plans he has to improve access to (a) day care and (b) residential care for people with disabilities in rural areas. [110779]
(2) what steps have been taken by his Department to ensure that local authorities follow the decision made in the High Court in R v. London Borough of Richmond ex parte Watson and other related cases; [110982]
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