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Publications (Sensory-impaired Access)

Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to ensure that all future literature which forms part of National Health Service public consultations will be available in a variety of formats to enable accessibility for the sensory-impaired. [131747]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 21 July 2000]: All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility. Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including major consultation documents produced by the Department.

Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is in relation to the production of its publications in accessible formats for the sensory-impaired. [131746]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 21 July 2000]: All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility.

Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including: consultation documents; information specifically aimed at elderly or disabled people; and information about help with costs.

Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nationally-produced public information leaflets and booklets have also been available since 1990 in (a) Braille, (b) moon, (c) large print, (d) audio-tape and (e) other formats suitable for those with a single or dual sensory impairment. [131781]

Ms Stuart: All the Department's publications are available on request in braille, on audio cassette tape, on disk or in large print. Additionally, documents are simultaneously published on the Department's website, which has been designed in line with the Cabinet Office guidelines on accessibility.

Braille and large print publications and/or audio tapes are produced as standard for certain categories of information, including: consultation documents; information specifically aimed at elderly or disabled people; and information about help with costs. The following table provides information about special format publications in these categories since April 1993.

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FormatNumber
Braille51
Moon1
Large print43
Audio tape83

Notes:

1. Before April 1993 responsibility for printing and publishing services rested with Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

2. Table does not show one-off publications/tapes produced in response to individual consumer requests


Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability of Viagra to sufferers of neuropathy due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [131748]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 21 July 2000]: We consulted widely before introducing regulations on 1 July 1999 restricting the prescribing by general practitioners of treatments for impotence, including Viagra.

GPs may issue a National Health Service prescription to men for the treatment of impotence only if they have one of a number of listed medical conditions. Neuropathy due to Guillain-Barre Syndrome is not one of these conditions.

Mead Webber Abattoir

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the start and finishing date of the independent public inquiry into the reasons for the closure of the Mead Webber abattoir; [131622]

Ms Stuart [holding answer 21 July 2000]: I understand from the Food Standards Agency that the arrangements for the independent investigation have been agreed but that Mead Webber Ltd. has indicated that it will not specify its complaint against the Meat Hygiene Service until related assault allegations have been resolved. Work on the investigation will begin as soon as a formal complaint has been received. In the circumstances, it is not possible to estimate its finishing date.

Genetic Testing

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will respond to the report published in 1999 by the Human Genetics Advisory Commission, "The Implications of Genetic Testing for Employment". [132741]

Yvette Cooper: The Government have given careful consideration to a report on "The Implications of Genetic Testing for Employment", from the Human Genetics Advisory Commission (HGAC). The Government agree with the HGAC that this is an issue which should be kept under close review in future. The Government accept the main findings of the HGAC's report. They have today asked the Human Genetics Commission (HGC), which is the successor to HGAC, to take note of the HGAC's recommendations, have suggested ways of taking them forward and have drawn attention to the measures they have already taken in this area. The Government have also asked the HGC to consider the next steps by including

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this issue in the Commission's wider study of the uses of genetic information and to provide advice to Ministers in due course.

I am placing a copy of the letter in the Library.

Suicides (NHS)

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the annual suicide rate of NHS (a) hospital nurses, (b) general practice nurses, (c) community nurses, (d) mental health nurses and (e) all nurses in each year since 1989 stating in each case (i) the number of suicides per grade and (ii) the proportion that represents per thousand employed in that category by the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [131014]

Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not held centrally but may be held locally by individual National Health Service employers.

We take the issue of suicide very seriously. That is why the development of strategies to reduce suicide is a major part of our programme outlined in the White Paper "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation."

The Department has commissioned Professor Keith Hawton from Oxford University to carry out research into suicide and stress among a number of occupational groups, including doctors and nurses. His reports will be published in due course.

The table shows statistics presenting the numbers of suicide deaths for doctors and nurses. The data are presented for ages 16-74 and 16-59. It is not possible to identify doctors and nurses who were actually employed at the time of their deaths, or whether they were employed by the NHS.

Suicides (E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8(1)) of medical practitioners, England and Wales, 1989-98

YearAge 16-74Age 16-59
19891917
19902519
19912618
19921813
19931811
19942521
19951311
19961311
19971612
19981715

(1) International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. E950-E959 Suicides and self inflicted injury. E980-E989 excluding E988.8 injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted excluding accelerated registrations.

Notes:

1. 1989-92--years of registration

2. 1993-98--years of occurrence


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Suicides (E950-E959 and E980-E989 excluding E988.8(1)) of nurses, England and Wales, 1991-98

YearAge 16-74Age 16-59
19916557
19925651
19935248
19946454
19956150
19965449
19975548
19985651

(1) International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision. E950-E959 Suicides and self inflicted injury. E980-E989 excluding E988.8 injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted excluding accelerated registrations.

Notes:

1. 1991-92--years of registration

2. 1993-98--years of occurrence


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