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Optometrists
Mr. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason optometrists do not have a place as of right on the boards of primary care groups in England; [100492]
- (2) what discussions he has held with the First Minister of the Welsh Assembly on the (a) contribution and (b) role of optometrists on the boards of local health groups in Wales; [100491]
(3) what plans he has to review his policy on whether optometrists should have a place as of right on the boards of primary care groups in England. [100493]
Mr. Hutton: The differing professional representation on primary care groups and local health groups reflects the differing roles of and expectations which we and the Welsh Assembly have of the two organisations. We feel that, in England, primary care groups can achieve high quality eye care by consulting both local optical committees and individual optometrists as appropriate. We will, however, be watching developments in Wales with interest to see what lessons can be learned.
Mr. Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review his policy on whether an optometric adviser should be appointed to each health authority in line with those persons already appointed to advise on general practice, dentistry and pharmacy. [100494]
Mr. Denham: This is for individual health authorities to decide, but we will be pointing out to them the highly worthwhile contribution which optometric advisers can make to both the development of primary eye care and the probity of general ophthalmic services.
Primary Care
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Primary Care Act pilots (1) were planned by the previous Government; and how many have been developed; [100196]
- (2) have been planned by the present Government; and how many have (a) been developed and (b) are in the process of being developed. [100197]
Mr. Denham: No Primary Care Act pilots were initiated by the previous Government.
Personal Medical Services pilots
Since 1998 there have been two waves of applications. In the first wave, 134 expressions of interest were received; 118 applications were received subsequently, and 102 approvals were issued. 88 schemes went live on 1 April 1998, with 83 pilots still operating at 1 September 1999.
In the second wave, announced in October 1998, over 400 expressions of interest were received. This resulted in 315 proposals being submitted by the end of June 1999. Of those, 204 were approved, with 116 going live in October 1999 and a further 86 by April 2000.
Personal Dental Services pilots
Since 1998 there have been three waves of applications. There were 15 pilots in the first wave, 13 of which started in October 1998 with a further two starting in January 1999. In the second wave, 72 expressions of interest were received, and the roll-out of 23 pilots commenced in October 1999. 120 expressions of interest were received
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for the third wave. These are currently being considered. Pilots in the third wave will commence from October 2000.
Dr. Iddon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take to reduce prejudice against and misunderstanding of the clinical needs of Down's Syndrome patients within the NHS. [100194]
Mr. Hutton:
We have already published good practice guidance on health services for people with learning disabilities: "Signposts for Success" (on commissioning and providing health services for people with learning disabilities) and "Once a Day" (for primary health care teams). We propose to build on these by ensuring that the clinical needs of people with Down's Syndrome are fully considered in our work to develop the new Government Learning Disability Strategy.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the nature and scope of the proposed forthcoming recommendations from the European Commission for possible amendments to EU Directive 75/318 relating to herbal remedies; and if he will make a statement. [100252]
Ms Stuart:
The Commission Directive 99/83 EC, adopted in September 1999, amends the Annexe to Directive 75/318 EC. This new Directive provides additional guidance on the data required to meet efficacy and safety requirements where a company seeking marketing authorisation wishes to use bibliographical data for the purposes of establishing that the product has a well established use. We will shortly be bringing forward an amendment to the Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994 to incorporate the change into United Kingdom legislation.
It has become evident recently that there is uncertainty among a number of European Union member states on how to interpret 99/83 EC. We wish to provide stability and certainty for business. Accordingly, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is currently raising the issue with the European Medicines Evaluation Agency and the European Commission with a view to achieving greater clarity over interpretation. The MCA will also be discussing this question with our statutory advisory bodies, the Medicines Commission and the Committee on Safety of Medicines.
In on-going discussions in the EU over the interpretation of Directive 99/83 EC, and over the possible creation of an additional category of traditionally used medicines, our objective for herbal remedies will be to achieve proportionate regulatory arrangements, effectively balancing consumer choice and public safety. In working towards this objective, the MCA will continue its programme of informal dialogue with the UK natural health sector.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to update the list of specified or toxic herbs which are subject to restrictions on sale and supply set out in the Schedule to the Medicines (Retail Sale or Supply of Herbal Remedies) Order 1977. [100253]
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Ms Stuart:
At Ministers' request, the Medicines Control Agency has considered the need to update the lists of herbs which are subject to restrictions on sale and supply set out in the Schedule to the Medicines (Retail Sale or Supply of Herbal Remedies) Order 1977. The agency believes that the protection of public health will be best served by updating the lists, and work is in progress to that end. Any proposals will be subject to public consultation.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has evaluated regarding the role of paramedics currently involved in conveying people to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983; and what training will be provided to enable the police to convey people appropriately. [100780]
Mr. Hutton:
We know of no research on the role of paramedics involved in conveying people to hospital under the Mental Health Act. It is for individual chief constables to consider their forces' training needs in specific areas of work. National police training includes some formal training on mental illness, supplemented by practical role play exercises, during the course of the fifteen-week residential phase of the probationer training programme undertaken by all recruits to police forces other than the Metropolitan Police (which has its own training programme, including training on mental illness).
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will encourage other police forces to adopt the arrangements which exist between the Metropolitan Police and the London Ambulance Service regarding the transport to hospital of people with excited delirium and people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. [100781]
Mr. Hutton:
The Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice encourages the development of local protocols by all the agencies involved in the operation of section 136 of the Mental Health Act. This section gives the police power to remove to a place of safety mentally disordered people found in a place to which the public have access and who are considered to be in immediate need of care or control. I understand that, in accordance with the Code of Practice, the Metropolitan Police and the London Ambulance Service are currently discussing a draft procedure to be followed on the transport to hospital of people who have been arrested under s136 of the Act. Once finalised, this will supplement existing guidance on admitting mentally ill patients to hospital and I would expect that both authorities would be willing to make it available to other organisations with an interest in these matters.
Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what right NHS patients have to access to information on the length of consultants' waiting lists before they are referred for treatment by their general practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [100643]
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Ms Stuart:
Patients are entitled to ask their general practitioner about the length of the hospital consultants' waiting lists in their area before being referred to a consultant. Most National Health Service trusts routinely send information to local GPs on waiting times for their consultants, and patients can access this information by phoning the Health Information Service on freephone 0800 66 55 44.
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