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Out-patients (Cornwall and Scilly Isles)
24. Mr. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of out-patient waiting times in Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly. [98949]
Mr. Denham: Despite a combination of increased referrals and reductions in activity due to the eclipse, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority, working together with the local Trusts, is taking action to address out-patient waiting times and will reduce the number of long waiters by the end of the year.
Organ Donors
26. Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to increase the number of organ donors. [98951]
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Mr. Denham:
The Organ Donor Publicity Campaign was launched in October 1998 and was reinforced in February by a campaign targeting the South Asian community. We shall continue to build on these campaigns to encourage people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, to carry the Donor Card at all times and most importantly make their wishes known to their family and friends.
We shall be developing a further campaign to inform the medical profession about best practice in requesting organ donation.
Additionally, in line with the drive to improve the quality of care for all users of the NHS, we shall seek to ensure that best practice is adopted in all units involved in donation and transplantation. We shall also support best practice in live donation, which has increased significantly over the last few years.
27. Mr. Salter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve cancer services. [98952]
Yvette Cooper:
We have recently appointed Professor Mike Richards as National Cancer Director. Reporting to Ministers and with executive responsibility, he will spearhead our concerted drive on cancer. Professor Richards has identified his priorities as workforce issues, faster access to treatment, fairer care and better information and support for patients. He will work in partnership with doctors, nurses, general practitioners, other health professionals and the voluntary sector to achieve these.
28. Mr. Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people awaiting their first appointment as a hospital out-patient. [98953]
Mr. Denham:
Data on the total number of people awaiting outpatient consultations are not collected centrally, because of the high level of turnover. During 1998-99 National Health Service trusts saw an extra 175,000 new outpatients. This year we expect the NHS to see over a third of a million more new outpatients than in 1998-99. That will mean that in 1999-2000, more than 11 million new outpatients will be seen--for the first time in the history of the NHS.
29. Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the clinical differences between an accident and emergency department and a local emergency centre. [98954]
Ms Stuart:
Accident and emergency (A&E) departments have emergency care available for 24 hours a day, are equipped to deal with severely injured patients, and have a full resuscitation service. Most also have access to specialist services such as neurology, cardiology and plastics as well as diagnostic facilities such as X-rays and scanners.
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Local emergency centres vary from area to area, but they may differ from full A&E departments in that they may not be open for 24 hours a day, and usually see people with less serious injuries.
However, patients can be referred from such centres to A&E departments or directly to hospital when appropriate. Additionally, enhanced telemedicine links enable patients to be diagnosed and treated locally without having to travel long distances.
30. Mr. St. Aubyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. [98955]
Mr. Denham:
We have asked the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation to undertake a wide ranging review of National Health Service resource allocation. We want a fairer formula which contributes to our goal of reducing health inequalities.
31. Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the Government's response to the Royal Commission on long-term care. [98956]
Mr. Hutton:
We are giving the report of the Royal Commission on Long Term Care careful consideration. We want to find a solution that is fair to the taxpayer and to the individual and which will stand the test of time.
32. Mr. Pound:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future role of private health care. [98957]
35. Mr. Purchase:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the private health care market. [98960]
Ms Stuart:
We are committed to continuing to develop and modernise the National Health Service to provide the best possible care. However, private care will be available for those who choose to use it and will be properly regulated. The Department does not collect information on the private health care market.
33. Mrs. Laing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of his waiting list initiative. [98958]
Mr. Denham:
We are making good progress towards meeting our manifesto commitment. The number of people waiting for National Health Service treatment is now 73,000 below the level we inherited from the previous Government.
34. Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of specialists in cardiology. [98959]
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Mr. Denham:
As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health confirmed recently we anticipate an additional 330 cardiology consultants and 80 extra consultants in cardio-thoracic surgery working in the National Health Service by 2005.
The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease will be published shortly. This will reinforce the priority we attach to tackling coronary heart disease and set the service context within which cardiologists will work.
36. Mr. Hepburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce the number of deaths from coronary heart disease in England. [98961]
Yvette Cooper:
The White Paper, "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" (published in July), sets out our strategy to tackle poor health and set a target to reduce the death rate from heart disease, stroke and related illnesses by at least 40 per cent. by 2010 from the 1996 baseline.
Last month we announced £50 million to increase cardiac surgery rates by about 10 per cent. over the two year period 2000-02, an additional 3,000 procedures over that period. This will improve access to coronary artery by-pass graft surgery. We will soon publish the National Service Framework on Coronary Heart Disease which will set out our plans for the development of services for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease over the next 10 years. The National Service Framework will be the keystone in our strategy to reduce both mortality and morbidity from heart disease.
37. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the system for ensuring an adequate supply of skin for patients needing transplants. [98962]
Mr. Denham:
There are five tissue banks which store skin in England and there has been no shortage of supply in recent years: in both 1997 and 1998 there was an excess of donated skin over that donated for therapeutic purposes.
A National Burn Care Review is currently under way and is looking, among other issues, at considering skin banking and supply.
38. Mr. Ruffley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are waiting more than 13 weeks for their first referral to see a consultant. [98963]
Mr. Denham:
At 30 June 1999, 485,000 people had been waiting longer than 13 weeks for their first outpatient appointment.
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average waiting time to see
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an orthopaedic consultant at the latest date for which information is available for each hospital trust in England. [98480]
Mr. Denham:
Information on the average time patients waited to be seen by an orthopaedic consultant during April to June 1999 (latest available data) by trust has been placed in the Library.
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