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Departmental Policies (Plymouth)
Mrs. Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to (a) Plymouth, Sutton constituency and (b) Plymouth, Devonport constituency and (c) South- West Devon constituency, the effects on (i) the South-West Devon health authority area and (ii) Plymouth unitary authority area of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [158033]
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Ms Stuart: Detailed information on the impact of Department of Health policies nationally is set out in the Department of Health Annual reports. A copy of the most recent report "Department of Health--Government Expenditure Plans 2001/02-2003/04 and Main Estimates 2001-02" is available in the Library and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/ dhreport.
The impact of policies are not examined by constituency, and statistics collected centrally by the Department are not collected on a constituency basis.
My hon. Friend's constituency falls within the geographical area covered by South and West Devon health authority and Plymouth social services authority.
Increases in allocations between 1996-97 and 2001-02 for South and West Devon health authority are set out in the table.
| Increase | |
|---|---|
| £ million (cash) | 117.3 |
| £ million (real terms) | 55.2 |
| Percentage (cash) | 30.12 |
| Percentage (real terms) | 16.52 |
Note:
Increases for 1999-2000 onwards are for unified allocations which cover hospital and community health services, prescribing and discretionary family health services. Those for previous years cover hospital and community health services only.
South and West Devon health authority has also received additional funding for certain policies. This includes: £1.181 million for accident and emergency modernisation in 2000-01; £221,000, £265,000, £376,000 and £237,000 for improving cancer services (breast, colorectal, lung and cancer out-patients) in 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 and 2000-01 respectively; South and West Devon health authority has also received £980,000 for investment in cancer equipment; £2.065 million and £5.026 million to reduce waiting lists and times in 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively; £1.714 million to expand critical care services in 2000-01; £2.691 million to deal with winter pressures in 2000-01. £206,000 of this went to Plymouth social services; £1.813 million and £451,000 for developing intermediate care services in 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively; £933,000 and £1.2 million for heart disease services in 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively; £95,000 invested into dentistry in 2000/01
In addition, my hon. Friend's constituents will benefit from the new £101 million major hospital development that is being developed at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.
Plymouth local authority came into existence on 1 April 1998. Its personal social services standard spending assessment for 2001-02 is £45.960 million.
In addition to its SSA, Plymouth has received additional funding in the form of a number of special and specific grants as set out in the table.
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| 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Transitional Grant(39) | 1,729 | -- | -- | -- |
| Partnership Grant(40) | -- | 1,256 | 1,077 | 1,471 |
| Prevention Grant(40) | -- | 99 | 149 | |
| Carers Grant(41) | -- | 99 | 256 | 357 |
| Children's Grant(41) | -- | 439 | 696 | 1,679 |
| MH Core Grant | 249 | 433 | 505 | (42)622 |
| Training Support Grant | 152 | 235 | 248 | (42)225 |
(39) The special transitional grant ended in 1998-99.
(40) The partnership and prevention grants have been combined in 2001-02 and called the promoting independence grant.
(41) The carers' and children's grants were introduced in 1999-2000.
(42) Indicative allocation.
Meat Hygiene Inspections
Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meat inspectors have been employed in inspecting (a) domestic abattoirs and (b) meat entering the UK in each of the last 10 years. [155290]
Ms Stuart [holding answer sent 23 March 2001]: I am advised on food safety issues by the Food Standards Agency.
The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) was established in 1995 when it took over meat inspection duties in licensed fresh meat premises in Great Britain from some 300 local authorities. The number of meat inspectors employed by the local authorities prior to 1 April 1995 is not known.
In licensed abattoirs, Meat Hygiene Inspectors (MHIs) are present throughout processing and are responsible for the post mortem inspection of carcases and offal. The average number of MHIs employed by the MHS in licensed abattoirs in Great Britain in each of the last six years is shown in the table:
| Average number of MHIs | |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 960 |
| 1996-97 | 1,084 |
| 1997-98 | 1,173 |
| 1998-99 | 1,267 |
| 1999-2000 | 1,205 |
| 2000-01 | 1,174 |
The increase in numbers is as a result of extra inspection work associated with the enforcement of BSE controls in licensed abattoirs.
Information for Health Initiative
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress to date on the Information for Health initiative. [158572]
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Ms Stuart: Information for Health focuses on the best use of information and Information Technology in improving health and health care and in supporting the delivery of patient centred care and services. It is also a partnership approach involving key stakeholders such as front line clinicians, professional and representative bodies and IT suppliers. By being inclusive, considerable approval and support has been gained for the strategy across the National Health Service.
The strategy was launched in September 1998 and it has had to flex to take into account major new initiatives flowing from the NHS plan and the e-Government agenda. These requirements are now fully reflected.
There are clear and defined national targets to ensure the implementation of a national information and IT infrastructure. Record levels of funding have been committed for investment in IT over a three-year period. Local plans produced in all health communities are monitored and analysed to ensure that investments will meet the target deliverables. Each local community consists of a host health authority, its constituent NHS trusts, general practitioners, other primary care contractors, local authority social services and voluntary sector organisations. All local plans produced last year were published on the Department's internet site.
The document "Building the Information Core: Implementing the NHS Plan" (www.doh.gov.uk/ nhsexipu/strategy/update/) contains details of key targets to be achieved over the next four years, in order to meet the commitments contained in the NHS plan in relation to information systems. Other related targets around national service priorities will emerge in due course. Collectively they give the immediate Information Management and Technology priorities which Local Implementation Strategy (LIS) communities need to address to provide the NHS-wide core applications and services. These fundamental targets are listed in the table.
The targets stretch to 2005 but progress on intermediate milestones has been strong. All GPs will be connected to NHSnet by March 2001 which will speed up and improve communications for test results, appointment booking and other patient centred information flows. NHS Direct services now cover the whole population of England.
In addition to local implementation major development programmes are in place across the NHS. The National Booked Admission Programme pilots have now been running for 12 months and the Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme (ERDIP) will provide essential lessons for national implementation of electronic patient and health records.
Progress so far has been strong and we will maintain the effort to ensure that we fully realise the opportunities now unfolding to support a patient focused and modern NHS.
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Note:
The final analysis of the quantitative targets and qualitative scoring of all LIS against 10 critical progress markers will be completed by mid June 2001.
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