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HEALTH
Research and Development
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to take forward the reform of research and development in the NHS. [117075]
Yvette Cooper: We are today announcing a programme of modernisation to give strategic direction to the management of Research and Development in the National Health Service.
High quality modern health care depends on high quality research-based evidence. These changes bring the management of R&D in the NHS into line with the principles set out in "The new NHS" (Cm 3807, December 1997). They provide a quality framework within which all R&D funded from NHS resources will respond to the priorities and needs of the NHS.
The Department of Health will take the lead in expressing priorities for the national effort in health services research, on behalf of the NHS. The NHS will work with other funding bodies and the universities to deliver advances in knowledge the NHS needs for evidence-based practice and policy.
Collaboration will replace unproductive competition. There will be no time-consuming NHS-wide bidding for NHS R&D allocations from April 2001. Instead, the Government will use a modernisation fund to encourage research partnerships and networks in areas of high priority for the NHS. We want to ensure that consumers of health services are involved at every stage in the research process. New guidance will reinforce the standards of governance and performance management required of R&D in the NHS.
The NHS is part of the national science base. These reforms ensure the NHS and the Department of Health meet the obligations of their partnership with other research funding bodies. Within this framework, the NHS
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will target resources on providing a suitable environment for high quality research conducted within strategies that take account of its priorities and needs.
The paper, "Research and Development for a First Class Service: R&D funding in the new NHS", sets out a new statement of policy and principles together with plans for implementation. Copies have been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Department of Health's website.
These reforms build on a review led by Professor Michael Clarke on behalf of the Central R&D Committee for the NHS. We are today making his report available on the Department of Health's website. As well as the management and funding of R&D in the NHS, Professor Clarke's review considered NHS priorities for R&D related to cancer, the elderly, heart disease and stroke, mental health, and primary care and took account of a review of research priorities for accidental injury. We are placing these reports on the Department's website. We intend to make early progress with the R&D priorities for cancer, heart disease and stroke, and mental health.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account he takes of the expenditure by local authorities on social service functions in framing his Department's expenditure plans. [116777]
Ms Stuart:
The Department takes full account of the current level of service provided by local government to social services recipients when considering the level of specific and special grants paid to local authorities.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust has spent from 6 April 1999 to the latest date for which information is available on having NHS patients treated in the private healthcare sector. [116732]
Ms Stuart:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Gray:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many workplace car parking spaces are available at the buildings used and controlled by his Department. [116769]
Ms Stuart:
There are 1,745 car parking spaces available for use by visitors and staff at premises occupied by the Department and its agencies.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money Essex Rivers Healthcare Trust has spent in the latest financial year for which figures are available for the treatment of NHS patients by the private healthcare sector. [116840]
Ms Stuart:
The information requested is not available centrally.
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Mr. Key:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce antenatal screening for genetic abnormality, including biochemical screening for Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [116731]
Yvette Cooper:
The United Kingdom National Screening Committee advises the Government on all aspects of screening policy. It considers the aim of all antenatal screening to be informed choice for parents. The NSC would rarely recommend the introduction of a blanket test such as a blood test for chromosomal disorders for all or most pregnant women, but rather a specific test for a known disorder. At present, individual women who have already had an affected pregnancy or have a family history of a genetic disorder should be offered specific genetic testing and counselling. We are currently considering the Committee's recommendation to offer all pregnant women second trimester serum screening for Down's Syndrome.
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about his plans for the future treatment of cleft lip and palate patients from Buckinghamshire. [116956]
Ms Stuart:
A final decision on the future configuration of cleft lip treatment centres is still to be taken. Any changes to services will be subject to full statutory public consultation.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will respond to the Crown report on the Review of Prescribing, Supply and Administration of Medicines. [116905]
Ms Stuart:
We announced our decisions on the implementation of the main recommendations of the Review on 13 March.
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons some private practices are being denied access to the meningitis C vaccine. [107990]
Yvette Cooper:
The campaign to immunise all children and young people under the age of 18 with the new meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is being undertaken by the National Health Service. Any child eligible to receive this vaccine can do so via the NHS. Any individual in the country may approach a general practitioner for NHS treatment, including immunisation if appropriate. Treatment is conditional on the GP's acceptance of the patient for NHS services.
The meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is new and manufacturers held no stockpiles in advance of the launch. We have distributed every batch of vaccine as fast as it has been released. Distribution has been in line with the implementation schedule with the vaccine being targeted specifically at those groups at highest risk first.
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The only way to guarantee a successful roll-out of the new vaccine, which is in limited supply, has been to ensure it is available through the NHS. The Department of Health has therefore bought all the vaccine available for the NHS. Once the NHS programme to immunise every child under-18 has been completed, sometime later this year, the vaccine will then be available to others outside of this group.
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to ensure sufficient supplies of the meningitis C vaccine are produced. [107992]
Yvette Cooper:
The meningococcal Group C conjugate vaccine is a brand new vaccine. The Department has calculated the amount of vaccine needed to immunise those covered by the immunisation programme and has contracted with vaccine manufacturers to ensure sufficient vaccine is available to implement the programme. The Department continues to liaise closely with manufacturers and the National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls, which tests every batch of vaccine for safety and potency, to ensure vaccine is made available to the NHS as soon as it becomes available. The Department will continue to seek to ensure adequate supply through close liaison with vaccine manufacturers. The NHS is the first healthcare system in the world to protect people with this new vaccine.
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the meningitis C inoculation programme for the under-18s will be completed this year. [107993]
Yvette Cooper:
Yes, subject to manufacturers meeting their supply contracts.
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if a non-NHS patient in the high risk categories can receive a vaccination by a GP working in the NHS. [107991]
Yvette Cooper:
Any individual in the country may approach a general practitioner for National Health Service treatment, including immunisation if appropriate. Treatment is conditional on the GP's acceptance of the patient for NHS services.
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