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HEALTH

Vaccination

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 24 May 2000, Official Report, column 506W, (1) what are the benefits and risks that are considered and constantly reviewed for each individual vaccination; [124762]

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Yvette Cooper [holding answer 7 June 2000]: The benefits of vaccination are the prevention of illness and death from infectious diseases. These benefits are assessed from clinical trials and epidemiological studies, prior to authorisation for clinical use. Following the introduction of a vaccine, there is ongoing monitoring of disease incidence rates and, where appropriate, outcomes.

The risks of immunisation to the individual are those of adverse reactions from the vaccine. These risks are evaluated both before and after authorisation using a range of data sources including clinical trials, spontaneous adverse reaction reports from health professionals, epidemiological studies and the published scientific literature.

The Department publishes full information on the benefits and serious adverse reactions to vaccination in the book 'Immunisation against infectious disease', copies of which are available in the Library. Vaccine-associated paralytic polio is the only serious reaction where evidence supports the suggestion of a causal association and there are demonstrated long-term consequences; this occurs in one out of approximately every million immunisations.

The authorised Summary of Product Characteristics for each product contains important prescribing information on individual vaccines and possible undesirable effects. These are available in the Compendium of Data Sheets and Summaries of Product Characteristics published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. The Summary is updated throughout the lifetime of the product, as new information becomes available.

Compulsory Treatment Orders

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from mental health users regarding the proposed introduction of compulsory treatment orders in the community. [125938]

Mr. Hutton: Our proposals to extend compulsory powers under the Mental Health Act beyond hospital settings formed part of our Green Paper "Reform of the Mental Health Act 1983". Consultation on this Green Paper ended on 31 March. We have received over 1,000 responses to this consultation from a wide range of people, including mental health users. Among these was a representation from the Mental Health Alliance, an umbrella group for a variety of organisations, which I received at their recent lobby of Parliament. We are now considering them carefully. I will make an announcement on how we will take this forward in the near future.

Medicine Prices

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers he has to control the prices of (a) parallel-traded branded medicines, (b) branded medicines dispensed against generic prescriptions and (c) branded generic medicines. [126666]

Ms Stuart: The prices of branded medicines derived from parallel trade follow those not so derived. The price of a branded medicine is unaffected if it dispensed against a generic prescription.

The prices of branded medicines, whether generic or not, are controlled indirectly though the operation of the 1999 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS), a

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voluntary arrangement which aims to secure the provision of safe and effective medicines for the National Health Service at reasonable prices. Whether the prices are reasonable is determined by the level of profits which manufacturers make from sales to the NHS. The operation of the PPRS is described in detail in the "Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme: Third Report to Parliament December 1999", copies of which are available in Library.

Section 34 of the Health Act 1999 allows my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to limit the prices of branded medicines supplied to the NHS by companies which are not members of the 1999 PPRS. This power has not been exercised because all major manufacturers of branded medicines are members of the 1999 PPRS.

Waiting Lists

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for admission to hospitals, including suspended patients but not including self-deferred cases, (a) in (i) Great Britain and (ii) each health authority, in (1) 1987 and (2) 1992 and (b) in (A) Great Britain and (B) each NHS trust in each year since 1995. [127209]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 23 June 2000]: The information requested for England has been placed in the Library. Matters for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are for their respective Administrations.

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of in-patients are treated at the Diana Princess of Wales hospital in Grimsby in (a) one

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month or less, (b) three months, (c) six months and (d) over six months; [128500]

Mr. Hutton: The latest available information is given in the table.

In patients treated

Diana Princess of Wales HospitalScunthorpe and Goole Hospital
Elective waiting list admissions9,68318,740
Elective waiting list admissions:
Within 1 month1,9248,118
Percentage seen within 1 month2043
Within 3 months1,8953,956
Percentage seen within 3 months2021
Within 6 months1,4481,989
Percentage seen within 6 months1511
Over 6 months4,4164,677
Percentage seen over 6 months4625

Note:

Percentages do not always add to 100 due to rounding.


NHS Staff

Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) administrative staff, (b) managerial staff, (c) nurses, (d) junior doctors and (e) other medical staff were employed in each region in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [127691]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 27 June 2000]: The information requested is shown in the table.

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NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Number of administrative staff; managerial staff; nurses; junior doctors and other medical staff employed in the NHS region as at 30 September each year
Whole-time equivalent

EnglandNorthern and YorkshireTrentWest MidlandsNorth WestEasternLondonSouth EastSouth WestOther
1999
Administrative and estates staff149,23018,88014,90015,46020,70011,91025,96021,29013,0207,110
Administrative managerial staff23,3802,6602,2502,4002,5002,0204,2903,8401,8201,590
Nurses338,58045,91035,64035,64051,15030,92051,54051,05032,6604,060
Of which:
Qualified250,65034,54025,95026,34037,42021,26042,81036,62024,0401,670
Unqualified87,44011,3809,5409,30013,7209,5708,70014,3208,5502,380
Junior doctors(1)29,4703,5203,0602,9404,1602,5206,9304,0002,340(3)--
Other Medical staff(2)26,5003,5002,6202,7503,7902,5404,6304,2102,460(3)--
1998
Administrative and estates staff145,67018,38014,46012,91020,84018,97016,70015,55020,4107,440
Administrative managerial staff21,8502,5102,1102,2303,4103,0702,4302,1602,3301,600
Nurses332,20044,87034,93032,31046,71042,25042,10035,40049,7403,880
Of which:
Qualified247,24033,75025,39023,65036,57031,93031,10026,35036,8201,680
Unqualified84,52011,1209,5408,66010,08010,00011,0009,01012,9102,200
Junior doctors(1)29,1003,5902,9702,8604,1802,6805,3104,1903,320(3)--
Other Medical staff(2)25,1603,3702,4102,6203,5802,5403,9203,5403,180(3)--
1997
Administrative and estates staff145,15018,42014,39012,82021,06018,65016,48015,29020,2407,800
Administrative managerial staff21,4302,4601,9802,2703,3303,1302,4102,1902,1901,460
Nurses330,62045,03034,76032,04046,92042,68041,85034,20049,3003,840
Of which:
Qualified246,01033,60025,15023,31036,81032,46030,67025,62036,7701,620
Unqualified84,02011,3909,6108,72010,0809,79011,1208,57012,5202,220
Junior doctors(1)28,5403,6402,9002,6503,9102,6405,4904,1303,180(3)--
Other Medical staff(2)23,8403,2102,3702,4903,4002,4203,7103,2103,030(3)--

(1) Includes Hospital medical staff in grades Registrar group, Senor House Officer and House Officer

(2) Includes Hospital medical staff in grades Consultant, Associate Specialist, Staff Grade, Hospital Practitioner, Clinical Assistant and other un-graded staff

(3) Not applicable

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts

3. Figures exclude learners and agency staff

4. New regional office boundaries were introduced on 1 April 1999

Sources:

Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census


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5 Jul 2000 : Column: 189W


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