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Solihull Hospital
Mr. John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future status of the accident and emergency facilities at Solihull Hospital. [8682]
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Mr. Hutton: A service review group comprising representatives from the Birmingham Heartlands and Solihull national health service trust (teaching), primary care trust, health authority, community health council, patient carers and patient representatives is currently undertaking an options appraisal for the future of the accident and emergency department at Solihull Hospital. The group will report to Solihull health authority on its recommendations, with a view to the health authority then launching a public consultation on its preferred option. The review was originally due to report back by the end September, but this has now been extended until early in the New Year.
Primary Care Trusts
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review processes by which public consultation is undertaken on primary care trusts, and the reorganisation of health authorities. [9129]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 19 October 2001]: It is not proposed at this stage to review the processes of consultation.
Legislation requires public consultation to be undertaken on the establishment of primary care trusts and new health authorities. The aim is that all consultation is open, transparent and inclusive, capturing the views of local stakeholders. While the regulations specify those who must be consulted, it allows for health authorities to consult a wider range of local bodies and individuals on the formation of primary care trusts.
With regard to the proposed new health authorities, consultation on their boundaries commenced in September and will be completed at the end of November.
Assertive Outreach Scheme
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health crisis resolution teams and assertive outreach teams have been established; and how many people are receiving assertive outreach services. [9515]
Jacqui Smith: The latest information held centrally indicates that there were 35 crisis resolution teams in place as at October 2000. The NHS plan has set a target of having 335 crisis resolution teams established by 2004. Progress towards meeting this target is being monitored this autumn through a comprehensive review process.
Returns received indicate that there were over 170 assertive outreach teams in place as at June 2001, and that around 9,000 people were receiving assertive outreach services. The NHS plan sets a target for a further 50 assertive outreach teams by 2004 so that everybody who requires assertive outreach, some 20,000 people, will be receiving these services.
GPs
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there are in post in Leicestershire in the current financial year. [9085]
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Mr. Hutton: The number of general medical practitioners in Leicestershire health authority as at 30 September 2000 is set out in the table. September 2000 data are the latest information available: September 2001 data will be available at the end of January 2002.
| Headcount | |
|---|---|
| All practitioners(8) | 547 |
| Unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)(9) | 500 |
(8) All practitioners include UPEs, restricted principals, assistants, PMS others, GP registrars, salaried doctors (paragraph 52 SFA) and GP retainers.
(9) UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.
Source:
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Weighted Capitation (Leicestershire)
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the extra resources required to bring Leicestershire up to a 100 per cent. of its weighted capitation in (a) cash and (b) percentage terms. [9086]
Mr. Hutton: Leicestershire health authority's distance from weighted capitation target for 2001–02 is £15 million in cash terms or 2.44 per cent. below target. For 2001–02 Leicestershire health authority received an allocation of £616 million, which is an increase of £49 million in cash terms or 8.57 per cent. The weighted capitation formula is used to set targets that inform allocations but the formula does not determine allocations.
Sexual Health
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will recommend the use in England of "Pathways to Sexual Health", published by the Lothian Health Board; [8686]
- (2) if he will recommend the use of "Let's Talk About Sex" by publicly funded organisations in England; [8687]
(3) if he will recommend the use of "Taking Sex Seriously—Practical Sex Education Activities For Young People" by organisations in England which are funded by his Department. [8688]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 19 October 2001]: It is for local agencies and organisations to determine which resources or materials most effectively and appropriately support their work. If they are to be used within a school setting, then this should be in accordance with guidance on Sex and Relationship Education produced by the Department for Education and Skills. The guidance
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stresses the need for schools to ensure that their pupils are protected from any teaching or materials which are inappropriate, while having regard to the age and cultural background of the pupils concerned.
Mobile Telecommunications
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial provision has been made for the mobile telecommunications health research programme. [9024]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Stewart report on mobile phones and health made a recommendation that a substantial research programme should be set up under the aegis of a demonstrably independent panel and financed by the mobile phone companies and the public sector. This programme has now been set up under the direction of an independent programme management committee. The total sum available for this programme is £7.36 million, the costs being shared 50:50 between Government and the mobile phone industry.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects will be undertaken by the mobile telecommunications health research programme. [9025]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 19 October 2001]: The Stewart report on mobile phones and health made a recommendation that a substantial research programme should be set up under the aegis of a demonstrably independent panel and financed by the mobile phone companies and the public sector. This programme has been set up under the direction of an independent scientific management committee. The committee is currently assessing a range of research proposals including those that investigate dosimetry, physiology and epidemiology. The first group projects is expected to start in the next few weeks. When they are approved, the individual projects will be announced on the Department's web site at www.doh.gov.uk/mobilephones.
Hospital Waiting Times (Essex)
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area were waiting for inpatient treatment for (a) more than 18 months, (b) up to 18 months, (c) up to 15 months and (d) up to 12 months, in each month from 31 May until the latest available monthly figures. [8697]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The information requested is given in the table.
The number of patients waiting more than 18 months, up to 18 months, up to 15 months, and up to 12 months for in-patient treatment at Mid-Essex Hospital Services national health service trust on 31 May 2001 until the latest available monthly figures are:
| 2001 | May | June | July | August |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number waiting over 18 months for inpatient treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Number waiting less than 18 months for inpatient treatment | 8,868 | 8,850 | 8,898 | 8,917 |
| Number waiting less than 15 months for inpatient treatment | 8,676 | 8,674 | 8,723 | 8,733 |
| Number waiting less than 12 months for inpatient treatment | 8,159 | 8,150 | 8,184 | 8,202 |
Source:
KHO7 quarterly return/monthly waiting list returns
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Age-related Audits
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish for each NHS trust the results of the age-related audits required by the National Service Framework for Older People; and if she will list those trusts that have (a) submitted their audits to the regional office on time, (b) yet to submit and (c) were late to submit their accounts. [8699]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 22 October 2001]: The date set by the National Service Framework for Older People for completion of the local age-related audit is October 2001. Information at regional and national level will be available later this year. Individual national health service trusts are expected to publish details of the policy reviews undertaken locally in their annual reports covering the current year.
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