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"Removing Barriers"
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how his Department ensured that the report, "Removing Barriers", published by the Local Government Association, was taken into account during the 1997–98 comprehensive spending review; and which of its recommendations have been implemented. [8050]
Jacqui Smith: In reaching our view of what to include in the comprehensive spending review 1998 we consulted widely and took into account the views of the Local Government Association (LGA) and other stakeholders.
The LGA report "Removing Barriers", which was published in 1997, highlighted the need for an active dialogue between the Department and the Department of Social Security (Department for Work and Pensions) on the interaction of the benefit system, and the local management of statutory welfare duties.
Departmental Ministers and officials regularly meet their opposite numbers in DWP, and with LGA representatives to discuss issues of mutual interest.
In the 1998 CSR we secured increased resources for social services averaging 3.1 per cent. a year in real terms for the years 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
Intermediate Care
Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to build hospitals devoted to intermediate care. [8023]
Jacqui Smith: The NHS Plan set the target of an extra 5,000 intermediate care beds by 2003–04. These will be provided in a range of settings—in existing acute and community hospitals, in redesigned nursing homes or in purpose built facilities. The precise arrangements will be a matter for local decision. As part of our funding for intermediate care over the next two years, around £65 million will be for capital investment to support this development.
General Practitioners
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners (a) left and (b) were recruited into the NHS in each of the last four years. [7599]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
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| Number | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | ||||||
| UPEs(89),(90) | 26,855 | 27,099 | 27,392 | 27,591 | 27,704 | ||||
| Joiners | 1,302 | 1,333 | 1,229 | 1,203 | |||||
| New joiners | 1,029 | 1,069 | 967 | 958 | |||||
| of which to: | |||||||||
| GMS | 1,029 | 1,047 | 920 | 886 | |||||
| PMS | — | 22 | 47 | 72 | |||||
| Re-joiners | 273 | 264 | 262 | 245 | |||||
| of which to: | |||||||||
| GMS | 273 | 256 | 249 | 219 | |||||
| PMS | — | 8 | 13 | 26 | |||||
| UPEs transferring directly from: | |||||||||
| GMS to PMS | — | 331 | 501 | 394 | |||||
| PMS to GMS | — | 0 | 24 | 73 | |||||
| Leavers | 1,058 | 1,040 | 1,030 | 1,090 | |||||
| of which from: | |||||||||
| GMS | 1,058 | 1,040 | 1,013 | 1,058 | |||||
| PMS | — | — | 17 | 32 | |||||
| Change in UPEs | 244 | 293 | 199 | 113 | |||||
(89) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs
(90) Numbers of UPEs at 1 October each year from 1996 to 1999 and 30 September from 2000. Other rows relate to changes between successive October/September Censuses
Source:
Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Statistics for General Medical Practitioners in England 1999–2000"
Waiting Lists
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients in each health authority in England have been waiting for treatment for more than 12 months. [7625]
Mr. Hutton: The table shows, for each health authority in England, the percentage of patients who were waiting 12 months or more for admission to hospital on 31 August 2001.
As part of the NHS plan, the national health service is working towards reducing the current maximum in-patient wait of 18 months to 14 months by March 2002, 12 months by March 2003, nine months by March 2004 and then ultimately six months by the end of 2005.
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Epoetin
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information his Department has collated on the availability of Epoetin to treat anaemia in renal disease in England; and if he will make a statement; [6493]
(2) what methods his Department uses to monitor access to Epoetin by patients who require treatment for anaemia in renal disease in England; [6494]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the role of Epoetin in treating anaemia in renal disease; [6492]
(4) what assessment his Department has made of the importance of treating anaemia in renal diseases; and if he will make a statement. [6491]
Jacqui Smith: There is much published information to show that the successful treatment of anaemia in renal disease can improve patients' well-being and their quality of life. The majority of renal patients require epoetin to attain recommended haemoglobin levels. Data on the availability of epoetin are collected in surveys commissioned by the Department of Health. The last survey was conducted in 1998 and the results were published last year in the 3rd annual report from the United
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Kingdom Renal Registry (copies available in the Library). This showed that 74 per cent. of all dialysis patients were being prescribed epoetin.
Diabetes
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the diabetes National Service Framework. [8067]
Jacqui Smith: We will be publishing a standards document this autumn, which will set out national standards to improve the quality of care for people with diabetes. The standards document will include the aims of the National Service Framework, the underpinning evidence and proposed service models. It will indicate the broad direction of travel over what will be a ten year programme, starting in April 2003.
We will publish the delivery strategy (including milestones) for the Diabetes NSF next summer.
We shall also be setting up an Implementation Group this autumn, which will work with the national health service and other interested parties to develop a delivery strategy for the Diabetes NSF that takes account of the changing roles and responsibilities of NHS organisations emerging from "Shifting the Balance of Power". The agreed delivery strategy, including milestones, service models, performance indicators and underpinning programmes, will be published next summer.
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