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11 Jul 2001 : Column: 507W

Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 11 July 2001

HEALTH

Anti-psychotic Medication

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the prescribing rates in the last three years for which figures are available for atypical, anti- psychotic medication. [1586]

Jacqui Smith: The number of items dispensed in the community in England for atypical, anti-psychotic preparations for the period 1998–2000 is shown in the table.

Thousand

Year	Prescription items
1998	469.7
1999	772.6
2000	1,149.4

The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system and are based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. The PCA system includes not only prescriptions originating from general practices in England but also from nurses, dentists and hospital doctors provided they were dispensed in the community; also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions.

Patient Consultations

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the new strategic health authorities will have in ensuring effective patient and public involvement. [1839]

Ms Blears: The detail of the roles and responsibilities of strategic health authorities are still being finalised. It is not possible to say at this stage what the precise arrangements will be for ensuring effective patient and public involvement mechanisms.

We shall be able to be much clearer about the role of strategic health authorities, including how it fits with the new involvement structures, later in the summer.

The new structures being formulated to strengthen patient and public voice and influence are based on the premise that every aspect of the National Health Service, both delivery and management, should respond to what

11 Jul 2001 : Column: 508W

users of the NHS believe is right for the future of the health services they use. Strategic health authorities will, together with all other bodies in the NHS, need to respond to this important consideration.

Chiropody Services

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase investment in NHS chiropody services. [1727]

Mr. Hutton: The NHS Plan forecast investment in all the allied health professions, which includes chiropodists. This year the Department has commissioned 345 training places, and funded local projects on return to practice from education consortia. Chiropodists are an integral part of the Government patient-focused policy programme, particularly in relation to older people and diabetes, which are part of the national service framework programme.

Medical Negligence

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to replace the law relating to claims for medical negligence with a system of no fault compensation involving payment of modest lump sums and pensions payable for fixed periods up to and including for life. [1719]

Ms Blears: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 3 July 2001, Official Report, column 144W.

Mental Health

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Government intend to implement the White Paper on "Reforming the Mental Health Act"; and what plans they have to consult further to ensure that new legislation meets the needs of mental health service users. [2713]

Jacqui Smith: We are committed to the reform of the Mental Health Act 1983 and will introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows. We will continue to take account of the views of mental health service users and other key interests as work is carried out to develop the policies set out in the White Paper "Reforming the Mental Health Act" into detailed proposals for new legislation.

Digital Hearing Aids

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the pilot schemes for the availability of digital hearing aids on the NHS; and if he will extend access to digital hearing aids on the NHS. [2541]

Jacqui Smith: The Department has asked the Institute of Hearing Research (IHR) to conduct a research evaluation of the Modernising National Health Service Hearing Aid Services project. The IHR is expected to present its report in February 2002. The evaluation will help determine how changes in hearing aid services might be extended to all NHS audiology departments.

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If the project is successful we anticipate that by 2003–04 we will be investing an extra £25 million in NHS hearing aid services.

Pending the outcome of the project, all NHS audiology departments, with the appropriate staff, training, equipment and experience, are able to apply for access to the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency contract for digital hearing aids.

Milford Hospital

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the future of Milford hospital; and if he will visit Milford hospital. [2833]

Ms Blears: West Surrey health authority is currently considering the responses received during the recent public consultation—The Sustainable NHS—Phase ii.

It would be inappropriate to make any comment on the future of the hospital before the health authority has made a final decision.

Ministerial commitments will not allow a visit to Milford hospital at this time.

Delayed Treatment

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the delay in the treatment given to Christopher Lewis, of Churchdown, Gloucestershire, by the NHS. [2942]

Ms Blears [holding answer 9 July 2001]: The United Bristol Healthcare National Health Service Trust investigated Mr. Christopher Lewis' complaint about the delays to his treatment under the NHS complaints procedure, and a reply was sent to Mr. Lewis by the chief executive of the trust on 11 June 2001.

Waiting Lists

Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future publication of inpatient and outpatient waiting lists in England; and what plans he has to publish further indicators of patient waiting times. [3270]

Mr. Hutton: The inpatient waiting list has been reduced by 255,000 since June 1998, and the number of outpatient over-13-week waiters fell by 94,000 over the same period. Information on waiting lists and times will continue to be collected and published.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what his estimate is of the level of (a) inpatient and (b) outpatient waiting lists and waiting times at (i) East Somerset NHS Trust and (ii) Taunton NHS Trust; what the Government's targets are in each category; and if he will make a statement; [3049]

(2) what targets for (a) inpatient waiting times, (b) outpatient waiting times, (c) inpatient waiting lists and (d) outpatient waiting lists, he has set for (i) East Somerset NHS Trust and (ii) Taunton NHS Trust for each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement; [3050]

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Ms Blears: Information on hospital waiting times is published quarterly by the Department in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England" and "Waiting Times for First Outpatient Appointments in England: Detailed Statistics". This information is also available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/waitingtimes.

The numbers of patients waiting for inpatient or day case treatment at East Somerset National Health Service Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust on 31 March 2001 are shown in the table.

Patients waiting for admission by number of months waiting

	East Somerset	Taunton and Somerset
0–2 months	1,089	3,400
3–5 months	538	2,039
6–11 months	314	1,371
12–17 months	2	28
18+ months	0	0
Total	1,943	6,838

The number of general practitioner written referral requests seen as a first outpatients in Quarter 4 (1 January to 31 March 2001) at East Somerset NHS Trust and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust is shown in the table.

Of those GP referral requests seen, the number who waited (in weeks)

	East Somerset	Taunton and Somerset
0-(1)4 weeks	2,251	4,609
4-(1)13 weeks	2,267	4,299
13-(1)26 weeks	758	2,305
26+	208	459
Total	5,484	11,672

⁽¹⁾ Less than

As part of the NHS Plan, the NHS is working towards reducing the current maximum inpatient wait of 18 months to 15 months by March 2002 and reducing the outpatient wait of over six months now to a maximum of six months by March 2002. These targets are part of a staged reduction in waiting times, with inpatient waiting times continuing to fall from 18, to 15, to 12, nine then ultimately six months by 2005. The maximum outpatient waiting time will fall to three months by 2005.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the length of the inpatient waiting list at East Somerset NHS Trust for each of the last 10 years; what his estimate is of the number of (i) inpatients and (ii) outpatients waiting for more than (a) three months, (b) six months, (c) nine months, (d) 12 months, (e) 15 months, (f) 18 months and (g) 24 months, for each reporting period over the last 10 years for (A) East Somerset NHS Trust and (B) Taunton NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [3048]

Ms Blears: The information requested is shown in the tables. Information on inpatients is not available before June 1991; information on outpatients is only available from June 1995.

Inpatient data for East Somerset NHS Trust (RA4) from June 1991 to March 2001

		Number of patients on list who have waited:
Quarter	Total	Over 3 months	Over 6 months	Over 9 months	Over 12 months	Over 15 months	Over 18 months	Over 24 months
June 1991	1,605	795	406	209	104	n/a	n/a	13
September 1991	1,558	724	377	167	82	n/a	n/a	7
December 1991	1,604	745	342	177	79	n/a	n/a	4
March 1992	1,485	531	196	47	0	n/a	n/a	0
June 1992	1,499	610	210	85	17	1	1	0
September 1992	1,601	545	245	71	16	1	0	0
December 1992	1,744	637	228	82	11	1	0	0
March 1993	1,670	611	244	72	0	0	0	0
June 1993	1,869	780	280	98	20	0	0	0
September 1993	1,845	815	342	103	26	1	0	0
December 1993	1,999	704	320	105	12	0	0	0
March 1994	1,725	654	252	76	0	0	0	0
June 1994	1,791	642	231	72	11	2	0	0
September 1994	1,721	685	272	77	7	0	0	0
December 1994	1,610	591	244	51	0	0	0	0
March 1995	1,423	381	138	10	0	0	0	0
June 1995	1,490	457	139	23	0	0	0	0
September 1995	1,673	497	127	15	2	0	0	0
December 1995	1,689	494	123	14	1	0	0	0
March 1996	1,634	421	111	2	0	0	0	0
June 1996	1,691	531	112	9	0	0	0	0
September 1996	2,181	682	169	18	0	0	0	0
December 1996	2,599	983	341	81	0	0	0	0
March 1997	2,662	1,025	435	146	6	0	0	0
June 1997	2,614	1,122	487	212	64	4	0	0
September 1997	2,537	1,077	482	185	65	23	0	0
December 1997	2,874	1,189	543	206	45	7	0	0
March 1998	2,845	1,251	521	172	5	1	0	0
June 1998	2,660	1,120	493	182	19	2	0	0
September 1998	2,335	965	431	171	22	0	0	0
December 1998	2,485	941	436	183	42	3	0	0
March 1999	2,489	850	382	143	0	0	0	0
June 1999	2,132	812	338	156	39	0	0	0
September 1999	2,294	843	334	136	41	5	0	0
December 1999	2,412	878	356	126	31	6	0	0
March 2000	2,061	803	377	150	31	4	0	0
June 2000	2,081	877	397	183	47	9	0	0
September 2000	2,209	900	410	183	55	3	0	0
December 2000	2,062	937	384	164	38	0	0	0
March 2001	1,943	854	316	96	2	0	0	0

Note:

Data not available prior to June 1991.

Source:

KH07 quarterly returns

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Inpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1991 to March 2001

		Number of patients on list who have waited:
Quarter	Total	Over 3 months	Over 6 months	Over 9 months	Over 12 months	Over 15 months	Over 18 months	Over 24 months
June 1991	6,506	4,126	2,619	1,713	1,094	n/a	n/a	289
September 1991	5,844	3,733	2,191	1,269	667	n/a	n/a	143
December 1991	5,730	3,103	1,596	792	341	n/a	n/a	66
March 1992	5,441	2,648	1,137	352	3	n/a	n/a	0
June 1992	5,671	3,102	1,459	525	121	20	15	5
September 1992	5,843	3,156	1,564	505	64	22	3	0
December 1992	6,331	3,113	1,593	599	83	13	8	0
March 1993	6,119	2,932	1,359	431	0	0	0	0
June 1993	5,975	3,094	1,440	462	57	3	2	0
September 1993	5,888	2,931	1,434	481	57	2	1	0
December 1993	5,701	2,897	1,335	469	67	7	4	0
March 1994	5,479	2,528	1,022	243	0	0	0	0
June 1994	5,510	2,491	972	229	0	0	0	0
September 1994	5,222	2,200	798	206	0	0	0	0
December 1994	5,212	1,966	701	157	0	0	0	0
March 1995	4,993	1,884	609	157	0	0	0	0
June 1995	4,995	1,974	480	43	0	0	0	0
September 1995	5,088	1,891	510	22	1	1	0	0
December 1995	5,007	1,748	408	29	0	0	0	0
March 1996	4,899	1,507	292	6	0	0	0	0
June 1996	5,152	1,753	329	22	0	0	0	0
September 1996	5,201	1,831	425	8	0	0	0	0
December 1996	5,898	2,324	648	34	0	0	0	0
March 1997	6,282	3,001	1,070	219	0	0	0	0
June 1997	6,759	3,198	1,406	376	18	0	0	0
September 1997	6,710	3,296	1,506	566	52	0	0	0
December 1997	7,513	3,569	1,689	695	113	0	0	0
March 1998	7,523	3,788	1,691	560	22	1	0	0
June 1998	7,596	3,999	1,771	576	32	0	0	0
September 1998	7,385	3,547	1,624	470	44	0	0	0
December 1998	7,606	3,677	1,705	574	114	1	0	0
March 1999	7,440	3,679	1,759	536	137	16	0	0
June 1999	7,451	3,910	1,859	707	137	13	0	0
September 1999	7,630	4,049	1,933	704	180	13	0	0
December 1999	7,690	4,077	2,007	753	211	61	0	0
March 2000	7,027	3,794	1,793	803	271	37	0	0
June 2000	6,920	3,662	1,677	792	297	58	0	0
September 2000	6,753	3,144	1,430	619	197	39	0	0
December 2000	7,094	3,539	1,459	654	203	40	0	0
March 2001	6,838	3,438	1,399	432	28	5	0	0

Note:

Data not available prior to June 1991.

Source:

KH07 quarterly return

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Outpatient data for East Somerset NHS Trust (RA4) from June 1995 to March 2001

	Number of patients waiting for a first outpatient attendance (following general practitioner referral) at quarter end who have waited:
Quarter	Over 13 weeks (three months)	Over 26 weeks (six months)
June 1995	941	277
September 1995	980	228
December 1995	1,000	189
March 1996	930	194
June 1996	325	20
September 1996	423	30
December 1996	451	60
March 1997	559	87
June 1997	657	146
September 1997	869	142
December 1997	988	225
March 1998	843	237
June 1998	863	210
September 1998	925	200
December 1998	1,047	196
March 1999	896	247
June 1999	1,180	258
September 1999	1,132	294
December 1999	1,043	306
March 2000	1,020	257
June 2000	1,266	295
September 2000	769	202
December 2000	633	126
March 2001	466	97

Notes:

1. Data are not available on the total number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment.

2. Data are not available for the number of patients waiting over nine, 12, 15, 18 or 24 months.

3. Data not collected prior to June 1995.

Source:

QM08 quarterly return

11 Jul 2001 : Column: 514W

Outpatient data for Somerset and Taunton NHS Trust (RBA) from June 1995 to March 2001

	Number of patients waiting for a first outpatient attendance (following GP referral) at quarter end who have waited:
Quarter	Over 13 weeks (three months)	Over 26 weeks (six months)
June 1995	948	205
September 1995	1,204	271
December 1995	1,138	172
March 1996	929	191
June 1996	1,153	143
September 1996	1,482	142
December 1996	1,471	194
March 1997	1,268	210
June 1997	1,105	173
September 1997	1,628	155
December 1997	1,599	219
March 1998	1,216	199
June 1998	1,536	199
September 1998	2,012	363
December 1998	2,125	527
March 1999	1,978	478
June 1999	2,483	552
September 1999	2,597	577
December 1999	2,561	643
March 2000	2,128	603
June 2000	2,651	483
September 2000	1,543	256
December 2000	1,692	275
March 2001	1,384	225

Notes:

1. Data are not available on the total number of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment.

2. Data are not available for the number of patients waiting over nine, 12, 15, 18 or 24 months.

3. Data not collected prior to June 1995.

Source:

QM08 quarterly return

11 Jul 2001 : Column: 515W

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