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NHS Trusts
Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money is currently owed to NHS trusts by (a) health care insurers and (b) independent providers for the care of private patients in the NHS; and for how long these debts have been outstanding. [113640]
Ms Stuart: Information on the amount of money currently owed to National Health Service trusts by healthcare insurers and independent providers cannot be separately identified.
Mobile Phones
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to publish the findings of the investigations of the National Radiological Protection Board; [113866]
- (2) what plans he has to fund further research into the health effects of emissions from mobile telecommunications masts. [113865]
Yvette Cooper: The National Radiological Protection Board was asked last year to set up an independent expert group on mobile phones. The group, chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS FRSE, is currently considering the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations and transmitters and is conducting a comprehensive assessment of existing research. The group is expected to finalise its report in April for publication in May. Detailed research plans are currently being developed and will take into account the expert group's report.
Methadone
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are involved in methadone treatment programmes in England and Wales. [113964]
Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not available centrally. Information is available from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on the number of users presenting to services for treatment and the drugs misused. Reliable information is not available centrally on the treatment given.
Patient Referrals
Mr. Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on how many occasions since April 1999 general practitioners have exercised their legal right to refer patients to a hospital other than that selected by their primary care group (a) in England and (b) in primary care groups in Hitchen or Harpenden; [113851]
- (2) what plans he has to alter the legal right of general practitioners to refer patients to the NHS hospital of their choice; and what legislative change would be required to remove that right; [113856]
(3) if information is collected about the number of patients asking to be referred to a hospital other than that selected by their primary care group; and if he will give the outcome of such requests; [113853]
(4) if he proposes to inform (a) general practitioners and (b) patients of the legal right of general practitioners to refer their patients to a hospital other than those selected by their primary care group. [113859]
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Mr. Denham: Information about individual general practitioners' referral of patients to specific hospitals or the number of patients asking to be referred to a hospital, other than the one selected by the primary care group, is not collected.
Primary care groups do not alter the general practitioner's ability to refer patients for health care services that they consider appropriate and it is for the individual general practitioner to assess their patients' health needs.
We have no plans to alter any legislation that would alter general practitioners ability to refer patients for appropriate health care services. Changes could be made only by amending the terms and conditions of services of general practitioners within the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992.
Mr. Harvey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department takes to monitor the way coroners and pathologists (a) handle issues of contact between grieving relatives and deceased victims of CJD and (b) implement relevant Government guidelines; [114317]
(3) what guidelines his Department has issued to coroners and pathologists concerning superficial contact between (a) grieving relatives and (b) bodies of deceased victims of CJD. [114316]
Yvette Cooper:
The Department gets feedback from patient groups. The Human Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Foundation, a voluntary organisation run by families of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) patients and funded by the Department, brought to our attention that some families had been caused unnecessary distress by inappropriate restrictions placed on them regarding funeral arrangements.
The Department has recently reminded coroners, pathologists and others of the extant guidance from the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) and the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) (published in April 1998) in relation to contact with those who have died from CJD.
The guidance states that there is no need for special precautions to be taken for either burial or cremation (where the risk is described as likely to be negligible), and that superficial contact, such as touching the face, need not be discouraged. The reminder was sent to:
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The ACDP/SEAC guidance states that available epidemiological evidence suggests that normal social or routine clinical contact with a CJD patient does not represent a risk to healthcare workers, relatives and the community. The National Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease Surveillance Unit continues to gather and analyse data on dietary, occupational and medical history on vCJD cases to identify any common risk factors. So far none have emerged.
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the health problems caused by the misuse of gammahydroxybutyrate. [114160]
Ms Stuart:
We are aware that gammahydroxybutyrate can present acute health problems for some misusers. The effects are exacerbated when mixed with alcohol or other drugs and can include collapse, coma and death. Information on the dangers of gammahydroxybutyrate is included in many of the resources produced by the Health Education Authority on behalf of the Department as part of a campaign to educate 11 to 25-year-olds and parents about substance misuse.
The Government look to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs for advice on whether a substance should be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. ACMD last considered gammahydroxybutyrate in May 1998 and concluded that misuse did not present a sufficient social problem to be controlled under this Act.
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the side effects from gammahydroxybutyrate misuse in the last five years. [114247]
Ms Stuart:
The Department has not commissioned any research into gammahydroxybutyrate but are aware that side effects and acute health problems including collapse, coma and death can arise from misuse. The Department has access to the research findings of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs which last considered gammahydroxybutyrate in May 1998. ACMD looked at a range of evidence including data from the National Poisons Information Service, publications in scientific journals and press reports.
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given on the prosecution of illicit manufacturers of gammahydroxybutyrate. [114161]
Ms Stuart:
Gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a medicinal product and is controlled under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc.) Regulations 1994 and the Medicines Act 1968. The manufacture and supply of GHB without a licence is a criminal offence under the legislation and where there is sufficient evidence the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) will prosecute.
Briefings on GHB have been given by the MCA to:
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Ms Stuart:
Gammahydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a medicinal product and is controlled under the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations etc.) Regulations 1994 and the Medicines Act 1968. The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) investigates all referrals of breaches of medicines legislation.
(2) what assessment his Department has made as to whether new variant CJD can be contracted by means other than ingestion; [114315]
Pathologists
The Coroners Association
Consultants in Communicable Disease Control
Local Authorities
Funeral Directors' professional associations
Morticians.
SEAC's view is that the most likely explanation of vCJD cases to date is exposure to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). However, we do not know the route of infection.
Heads of Police Force Intelligence Bureaux
Trading Standards Officers
Mr. Ben Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the use of the internet as a vehicle for the purchase of gammahydroxybutyrate. [114163]
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