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Patient Records

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to phase out the use of Lloyd George envelopes and promote the use of A4 folders as the standard means of storing patient records; [118954]

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(2) what steps he is taking to harmonise paper-based records within the National Health Service; and if he will instigate a review of current systems. [118953]

Ms Stuart: National Health Service paper record- keeping systems have previously been submitted to extensive review, and there are no current plans to instigate further examinations. The replacement of Lloyd George envelopes with A4 folders as the standard means of holding paper records is not under consideration.

Future developments in record-keeping will be driven by the information strategy "Information for Health", which is committed to the vision of electronic record-keeping, as befits the modern NHS.

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many different computer-based records systems are in use by general practitioners; and if they are compatible. [118952]

Ms Stuart: There are 18 companies with clinical computer systems in use by general practitioners. In general there is little direct compatibility between the products of these companies. However, current policy, which is supported by the system suppliers, is to migrate these products to industry standard software which will create open and inter-operable systems which in turn will facilitate more automated sharing of information.

Mr. Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure the compatibility of computer systems used in hospitals with those used by general practitioners. [118951]

Ms Stuart: The information strategy for the Modern National Health Service 1998-2005 "Information for Health" is aimed at focusing the development of information technology systems to facilitate the delivery of integrated care. A number of specific initiatives are taking place to ensure compatibility of computer systems used in hospitals with those used by general practitioners:

The establishment of a national clinical information standards board with responsibility to deliver agreed standards for communicating clinical information between clinicians in primary and secondary care;

The development of an agreed framework for helping to structure the thousands of clinical communications which are sent and received every day. A multi-professional group of clinicians have developed a draft framework of headings and accompanying definitions that are being evaluated for this purpose;

The Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme is currently agreeing a comprehensive programme of work which will address the national requirement for standards to ensure the compatibility of clinical computer systems used in hospitals and primary care;

Work over the next 12 months to support the development of clinical messages to support GP to GP record transfer, referral and discharge.

Insomnia

Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) specialist sleep clinics and (b) specialist consultants in sleep deprivation there are in the NHS; and what is their geographical distribution. [119031]

Mr. Hutton: Specialist sleep clinics may fall under the remit of several different specialties including General Medicine, Chest/Respiratory Medicine and

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Otolaryngology. Information is not collected centrally on either the number of specialist sleep clinics nor those clinicians who sub-specialise in sleep problems.

Genetic Data

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to protect anonymous genetic data obtained in confidence from being exploited by commercial companies without the consent of the patient; and if he will make a statement concerning the Source Informatics judgment. [119524]

Ms Stuart: Genetic data provided in confidence should not normally be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the individual to whom they relate. However, the Court of Appeal ruled in December 1999--the Source Informatics judgment--that once data have been effectively anonymised they are no longer confidential. Although we have no plans to introduce legislation in this area at the present time, the Department is considering whether patient interests and the broader public interest are adequately protected.

We remain concerned about the use of anonymised health data for commercial purposes that may not be in the public interest and have directed the Department to seek leave from the House of Lords to appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment.

Social Services Departments

Mr. Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social services departments remain under special monitoring by the Social Services Inspectorate. [119282]

Mr. Hutton: There are 12 councils with social services responsibilities subject to special measures by the Social Services Inspectorate.

Bed Availability

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2000, Official Report, column 12W, on bed availabilities, how soon after 15 May he will announce targets; and if the base line will be set at 1998-99. [119302]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 17 April 2000]: We shall issue planning guidance for the National Health Service when we publish our response to the National Beds Inquiry consultation. This is likely to be during the summer. The consultation continues until 15 May. No decision has yet been taken about whether to set specific targets for beds as part of the planning guidance.

Prescribed Drugs

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of children aged (a) under 10 and (b) under 16 years who have been prescribed (i) Ritalin and (ii) Prozac in the past 12 months. [118891]

Ms Stuart: Information on the number of children prescribed Ritalin and Prozac is not collected. Ritalin should be used only in cases where there is a clear diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder following comprehensive assessment by a specialist in childhood behavioural disorders. Given some concern

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over the clinical evidence and current levels of prescribing, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is to consider Ritalin later this year and will issue authoritative advice on its use in routine practice.

Prozac is not licensed for use in children as the safety and efficacy has not been established. Doctors may prescribe medicines outside their licensed indications if they consider that this is in the patient's best interests.

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to report on Ritalin; and if his Department has given evidence to its inquiry into Ritalin. [118921]

Ms Stuart: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), a Special Health Authority independent of the Department of Health, is expected to disseminate its guidance on Ritalin to the NHS in October 2000. The Department has not submitted evidence to inform NICE's appraisal, although in accordance with usual practice it has commissioned an independent systematic review of the research evidence on behalf of NICE. The Department of Health will be consulted along with other stakeholders on NICE's draft recommendations.

GM Salmon

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent reports he has received on the safety of genetically modified salmon; and what his policy is on the sale of genetically modified salmon in the UK; [119420]

(2) what information has been received concerning genetically modified salmon bred by A/F Protein Inc.; what European marketing consent exists for such salmon; and what his policy is on licensing the import of genetically modified salmon eggs to the UK. [119421]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 17 April 2000]: No information has been received concerning genetically modified salmon bred by A/F Protein Inc. nor has any application been made to import these salmon or their eggs.

Neither the salmon or their eggs could be imported into the European Community without approval having first been given under either the EC contained use Directive (90/219), the EC deliberate release Directive (90/220) or the EC novel food regulation (258/97).

Cleft Lip and Palate Patients

Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he has made for the integration into the reorganised treatment facilities of current cleft lip and palate patients. [119318]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 17 April 2000]: Changes in the delivery of services for cleft lip and/or palate patients will need to take place in a managed way. All surgery will be carried out in the new designated centres when they are established and staff have been appointed. A number of existing units may become "spokes" or "outreach" centres and continue to provide some cleft services in discussion with designated centres.

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