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Social Services (Overspending)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received this year from the Association of Directors of Social Services regarding overspending by local authorities on personal social services; and what the conclusions were of these reports. [137122]
Mr. Hutton: I have not formally received a report from the Association of Directors of Social Services on this matter. However, the Department is in close touch with officers of the Association on a wide range of topics. The conclusions of any work by the Association on levels of spending on personal social services are a matter for the Association.
Community Hospitals
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the role of community hospitals in the NHS 10 year national plan. [137404]
Mr. Denham: The National Health Service Plan announced a major programme of investment in intermediate care and related services to promote independence and improved quality of care for older people.
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As part of this investment, there will be 5,000 extra intermediate care beds by 2004, and the Plan makes it clear that some of these will be in community hospitals.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration he gave to the PFI bid to build a new community hospital in Lymington as a separate project from other community hospitals; [137403]
- (2) for what reasons he rejected the PFI bid to build a new community hospital in Lymington; [137405]
(3) if he will make a statement about the future of the proposed new community hospital at Lymington. [137402]
Mr. Denham: Each private finance initiative (PFI) scheme is considered on its own merits and will only be approved if it is clearly demonstrated that the PFI option delivers better value for money to the National Health Service and the taxpayer when compared to the publicly funded alternative.
Despite intensive efforts by the NHS, the Lymington Community Hospital PFI proposal did not produce a viable value for money solution. It was therefore decided to terminate negotiations with the PFI preferred bidder.
The local NHS will now conduct a review with all key stakeholders to assess possible options to deliver the required facilities in Lymington. The outcome will be announced as soon as possible.
In-patient Treatment
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for in-patient treatment for (a) cancer, (b) heart disease and (c) HIV and hepatitis in each of the last 10 years in the (i) Sutton and Cheam constituency and (ii) Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Health Authority. [134984]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 6 November 2000]: We do not hold all of the information in the format required. Data are collated by health authority as opposed to parliamentary constituency.
Waiting lists for in-patient treatment for heart disease are held under cardiothoracic surgery and cardiology waiting lists. The figures for Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth are as follows. Data were collected only from 1996-97 onwards.
| Year | Cardiology | Cardiothoracic surgery |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 260 | 84 |
| 1997-98 | 347 | 194 |
| 1998-99 | 313 | 156 |
| 1999-2000 | 350 | 149 |
Information on in-patient waiting times is collected by consultant speciality. Treatment for cancer, HIV and hepatitis is carried out in a number of specialities and the numbers waiting for treatment are therefore not identifiable separately.
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Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the access to fresh fruit and vegetables to those living in areas with limited shopping facilities. [136587]
Yvette Cooper: [holding answer 6 November 2000]: The National Health Service Plan published in July set out our plans to increase access to fruit and vegetables and make a healthy diet a real choice for everyone. We will work with producers, retailers and others to increase provision and access to fruit and vegetables, particularly in deprived communities, schools and hospitals.
Five local five-a-day pilot initiatives are already underway in Sandwell, Somerset, Airedale and Craven, County Durham and Hastings. These projects aim to increase access to fruit and vegetables across the whole population, but all have a particular focus on improving access to fruit and vegetables for the worst off. The pilots are being carefully evaluated. Based on the lessons from these pilots, and evidence of effective interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, these local initiatives will be developed across the country.
The National School Fruit Scheme will make a free piece of fruit available to school children aged four to six each school day. Pilots will examine the practicalities of the scheme before national roll-out begins.
Hospital Mortuaries
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisation is responsible for setting the necessary minimum standard for hospital mortuaries. [137232]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 7 November 2000]: Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd. (CPA) oversees accreditation of National Health Service pathology laboratories which include standards for mortuary and post mortem facilities. In addition, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carries responsibility for mortuaries in the same capacity as for any other hospital facility. The HSE's Health Services Advisory Committee is currently revising its publication "Safe working and the prevention of infection in the mortuary and post-mortem room".
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS hospital mortuaries which fail to meet necessary minimum standards. [137236]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 7 November 2000]: Hospital mortuaries are accredited as part of the National Health Service pathology services and are not separately identified.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to establish that NHS hospital mortuaries meet the necessary minimum standard. [137233]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 7 November 2000]: National Health Service pathology laboratory services have responsibility for the standard of hospital mortuaries, as part of accreditation. The Department supported the development of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (CPA) Ltd., the main accreditation body in the United Kingdom.
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CPA sets standards for laboratory services, inspects laboratories, including mortuaries, against the standards and reports to hospital chief executives.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 603W, (1) when he expects remedial action to be taken to bring the mortuary at Trafford General Hospital to the necessary minimum standard; [137237]
- (2) what funding will be provided to achieve the necessary minimum standards at the mortuary of Trafford General Hospital. [137238]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 7 November 2000]: £8,550 was made available in 1998 to ensure that the mortuary at Trafford General Hospital met the minimum standards. As part of this process, work carried out included:
- internal and external decoration;
- work on the body stores (including replacement panels and thermometers);
- a full steam clean;
- a repair to the roof; as well as
- a revamp of the relatives' viewing area.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 603W, what inquiries he has made into the reasons why expenditure on the mortuary at Trafford General Hospital in 1998 failed to bring the facility to the necessary minimum standard. [137239]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 7 November 2000]: As a result of the funding made available in 1998, the current mortuary facilities at Trafford General Hospital do meet the minimum standards.
Salford and Trafford Health Authority is satisfied that the facilities at Trafford General Hospital do not pose a risk to patients and staff alike. As in the rest of the hospital, infection control procedures are in place and are monitored regularly.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS hospital mortuaries which have been visited by Ministers in his Department since May 1997. [137240]
Mr. Denham [holding answer 7 November 2000]: None of the current Ministers at the Department have so far been able to visit an NHS mortuary as part of their visits to the service. We will though keep this possibility in mind for future visit programmes.
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