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Childhood Cancer
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases have been reported this year and in the past three years of childhood cancer being caused by electric fields; and if he will make a statement. [108590]
Yvette Cooper: It is not possible to attribute any individual cases of childhood cancer to electric fields. The United Kingdom Childhood Cancer Study, published in December 1999 found no evidence to link childhood cancer with exposure to magnetic fields from the electricity supply. Their report on electric fields is expected later this year. In 1992, the National Radiological Protection Board's Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation examined in detail the evidence for an association between the incidence of childhood cancer and exposure to electromagnetic fields. They concluded that there was no clear evidence of an adverse health effect at the levels of electromagnetic field to which the public is normally exposed. A further review which will consider electric and magnetic fields independently, will be published later this year.
Genetically Modified Crops
Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the antibiotics to which marker genes used in the production of genetically modified crops convey resistance and the medical uses of those antibiotics. [108628]
Yvette Cooper: Marker genes conveying resistance to a number of antibiotics have been used in the production of genetically modified crops around the world. Those used in the development of Genetically Modified (GM) crops that have been submitted for evaluation in the UK,
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either for food use or for release to the environment (either marketing consent or for experimental releases), are listed in the table:
| Gene | Antibiotic |
|---|---|
| Kanr (nptll or neo) | Amnioglycoside antibiotics including kanamycin, and neomycin |
| Strepr/specr (or aad) | Streptomycin and spectinomycin |
| Ampr (or bla) | Narrow spectrum lactam antibiotics such as ampicillin and amoxycillin |
| Tc | Tetracycline |
| Nptlll | Amikacin |
| Hpt | Hygromycin |
In some instances marker genes have been used in the early laboratory stages of the development of GM crops but are not present in the final crop plants. In addition, all foods derived from GM crops that are currently available in Europe are highly processed before consumption and the genetic material is no longer viable.
The medical uses of these antibiotics are as follows:
| Antibiotic | Medical uses |
|---|---|
| Kanamycin, neomycin (aminoglycosides) | Kanamycin is not commonly used now. Neomycin is used locally for ear or skin infections and may be used to reduce microbial load prior to bowel surgery. It is not used parenterally |
| Streptomycin, spectinomycin | Streptomycin and spectinomycin are of value in the treatment of serious infections such as TB, and for treating gentamicin-resistant enterococcal endocarditis. They are also used in the treatment of gonorrhoea |
| Ampicillin, amoxycillin | lactam antibiotics are widely used to treat all forms of infection |
| Tetracyclines | Group of broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat acne, respiratory infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Also used in treatment of infections in penicillin-allergic patients |
| Amikacin | Another aminoglycoside used to treat serious Gram-negative infections, especially those caused by organisms resistant to gentamicin (the aminoglycoside of choice) |
| Hygromycin | Veterinary antibiotic |
The safety of any genetically modified food is carefully and rigorously assessed before it can be marketed in the United Kingdom. This evaluation will include an assessment of any potential adverse effects on health of the novel food, including the health implications of any antibiotic resistance markers that may be present in the food, taking a precautionary approach.
Global Warming
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to advise health authorities against the installation in hospitals of air conditioning and refrigerant systems which contain substances known to contribute significantly to global warming. [109331]
Yvette Cooper: It is the Department's policy to achieve best environmental practice and it is committed to the efficient use of energy and resources. This includes taking action to reduce/minimise pollution or the risk of pollution, including ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.
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While formulating the Strategy for 'Greening' the National Health Service, NHS Estates (an executive agency of the Department) will address the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming, alongside other environmental factors, such as waste prevention and water conservation.
Worcestershire Hospitals
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) change of use and (b) additional facilities are planned for the Newtown Hospital site in Worcestershire. [109826]
Yvette Cooper: The Newtown Hospital site will be retained for the delivery of mental health services by the newly created Worcester Community and Mental Health National Health Service Trust, which comes into effect from 1 April 2000. The site will also provide some acute services that support the new Worcestershire Acute Hospital as set out in the approved Full Business Case for a New Hospital in Worcester.
However, I understand options are currently being explored around the suitable use of the main building on the Newtown site.
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the new district general hospital at Worcester will be fully operational. [109827]
Yvette Cooper: The new £91 million Worcestershire Acute Hospital is due for completion in January 2002 and will be fully operational by the spring of 2002.
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what agreement has been reached between Shropshire and Worcestershire health authorities on hospital provision following the re-organisation of hospital services in Kidderminster. [109823]
Yvette Cooper: The Government are mindful of Worcestershire health authority's responsibilities to ensure continuity and equity of access to services to neighbouring health authorities like Shropshire.
Shropshire health authority was consulted on the proposals outlined in "Investing In Excellence" and informed of Ministers' decisions to approve the service changes and the Worcestershire Trust mergers. As soon as the clinical working group's advice on the timing of inpatient service moves from Kidderminster Hospital has been received, and a firm decision made, the two health authorities and the new Trusts will obviously discuss in full the issues for hospital services provision.
Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when (a) psychiatry, (b) orthopaedics, (c) trauma, (d) gynaecology, (e) urology, (f) medicine, (g) vascular surgery and (h) general surgery services will cease to be provided at Kidderminster Hospital. [109825]
Yvette Cooper: There are no firm timescales at present regarding the movement of services from Kidderminster Hospital. Twelve clinical working groups, comprised of consultants from all three acute hospitals in Worcestershire and other healthcare professionals, have been set up to look at how and when it would be appropriate to implement the changes to inpatient services at Kidderminster as outlined in the "Investing In Excellence" strategy.
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The groups will report back to the new shadow board of the Worcestershire Acute Trust by the end of March 2000. Decisions will then be taken on timescales, following which a comprehensive public information campaign will be implemented across the county.
Kidderminster residents will still have access to 80 per cent. of the healthcare provided at Kidderminster Hospital, including outpatient clinics, day case surgery and rehabilitation and to comprehensive primary care services.
Cancer
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures showing the composite index for early detection of cancer in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99 for (i) England, (ii) East and North Hertfordshire, (iii) West Hertfordshire and (iv) the health authority in the prospering growth area with the (1) lowest figure and (2) highest figure. [109748]
Yvette Cooper: The composite index for early detection of cancer consists of the combined coverage figures for the eligible populations for the National Health Service breast screening programme and the NHS cervical screening programme. For the purposes of this answer we have broken down the figures, and the information requested is in the table:
| Breast screening | Cervical screening | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage at 31 March 1998 | ||
| England | 63.9 | 85.3 |
| East and North Hertfordshire | 66.2 | 86.6 |
| West Hertfordshire | 69.3 | 86.5 |
| Buckinghamshire | 77.3 | 89.2 |
| Hillingdon | 61.2 | 85.3 |
| Cambridge and Huntingdon | 66.0 | 89.4 |
| South Essex | 65.7 | 83.9 |
| Berkshire | 71.2 | 83.2 |
| Coverage at 31 March 1999 | ||
| England | (23)-- | 84.0 |
| East and North Hertfordshire | (23)-- | 84.1 |
| West Hertfordshire | (23)-- | 85.5 |
| Buckinghamshire | (23)-- | 87.7 |
| Hillingdon | (23)-- | 83.3 |
| Cambridge and Huntingdon | (23)-- | 87.6 |
| South Essex | (23)-- | 83.1 |
| Berkshire | (23)-- | 82.4 |
(23) Breast screening figures at 31 March 1999 not yet available
Note:
Health authorities defined as 'prospering areas: growth areas' according to the Jarman Under Privileged Areas Score.
Source:
Annual Return KC53 and KC63
At 31 March 1998, the prospering areas: growth areas Health Authority with the highest coverage of breast screening was Buckinghamshire with 77.3 per cent., and the lowest was Hillingdon with 61.2 per cent. For cervical cancer at the same point highest coverage was Cambridge and Huntingdon with 89.4 per cent. The lowest was South Essex with 83.9 per cent.
At 31 March 1999, the prospering areas: growth areas the health authority with the highest coverage of cervical screening was Buckinghamshire with 87.7 per cent. The lowest was Berkshire with 82.4 per cent.
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Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish figures showing the composite index for five year survival rates for breast and cervical cancer in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99 for (i) England, (ii) East and North Hertfordshire, (iii) West Hertfordshire and (iv) the health authority in the prospering growth area with the (1) lowest figure and (2) highest figure. [109755]
Yvette Cooper: The 1997-98 figures for the cancer survival rates indicator were published in "Quality and Performance in the NHS: High Level Performance Indicators" in June 1999, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for 1998-99 will be published later this year.
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