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Keyworker Accommodation
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that all vacant National Health Service property suitable for use as National Health Service keyworker accommodation will be considered for that use in priority to any other use. [9502]
Mr. Hutton: As set out in the Department's estate-code section on priority purchase, it is our policy that surplus National Health Service property will be made available for other healthcare users, and this includes the provision of key-worker accommodation in appropriate locations. The Department is further required to follow Government accounting principles in the disposal of surplus NHS property to ensure value for money.
Schizophrenia
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the findings of the Zito Trust report "The Practice Gap in Schizophrenia"; and if he will make a statement. [9504]
Jacqui Smith: The publication of the Zito Trust report "The Practice Gap in Schizophrenia" was welcome, timed as it was to be relevant to the work that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is carrying out for us to advise on the clinical and cost effectiveness of the use of
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atypical antipsychotic drugs in treatment of schizophrenia relative to conventional antipsychotics. This technology appraisal will contribute to the ongoing development of a guideline on the management of schizophrenia which should be published in 2002.
Hip Operations
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hip operations have been carried out in Leicestershire in each year since 1992 and for the last year for which figures are available. [9084]
Mr. Hutton: Finished consultant episodes (FCE) where a hip replacement operation was performed at national health service hospitals in the Leicestershire health authority area from 1992–93 to 1999–2000 are set out in the table. 1999–2000 is the latest year for which official figures are available.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1992–93 | 817 |
| 1993–94 | 817 |
| 1994–95 | 732 |
| 1995–96 | 936 |
| 1996–97 | 966 |
| 1997–98 | 791 |
| 1998–99 | 968 |
| 1999–2000 | 979 |
Notes:
An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year. Data in this table are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/ invalid clinical data, except for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.
NHS Patients (Europe)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who authorises sending NHS patients for surgery in Europe. [9427]
Mr. Hutton: Under the E112 scheme provided by European Community law for referral of individual patients for hospital treatment within the European Economic Area (EEA) authorisations are made by the Department on behalf of England, Wales and Scotland, generally after obtaining the agreement of the patient's national health service consultant and health authority. Northern Ireland operates its authorisation scheme independently.
Following recent rulings of the European Court of Justice NHS bodies now have the power to commission treatment for their patients in EEA countries, as part of wider efforts to reduce waiting times.
Kington Hospital (Herefordshire)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in building Kington Hospital in Herefordshire. [9043]
Mr. Hutton: Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and Herefordshire county council are working in partnership with an independent sector provider, Blanchworth Care, to improve health and social care services in Kington.
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Blanchworth Care will build a new health facility in Kington, to which all of the services provided in the existing Kington Hospital will be relocated.
Contract discussions are at a very advanced stage with all parties expecting to be able to conclude an agreement and sign a contract soon. Blanchworth Care has already secured a site for the new facility and will be in a position to commence work as soon as the contract is completed.
Social and Care Workers
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to recruit and retain social and care workers. [9266]
Jacqui Smith: On 19 October 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a £1.5 million recruitment campaign, which is designed to increase the number of people interested in careers in social work and social care work in England. As well as this action to tackle recruitment problems, the Department is also working with the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Social Services to help employers implement policies to improve recruitment and retention of staff.
Auxiliary Nurses (Pay)
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what pay increases have been awarded to auxiliary nurses each year since April 1997. [10214]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is provided in the table.
| Year | Grades A and B |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 4.1 per cent. from 1 December 1997 |
| (2.0 per cent. from 1 April 1997) | |
| 1998 | 3.8 per cent. from 1 December 1998 |
| (2.0 per cent. from 1 April 1998) | |
| 1999 | 4.7 per cent. |
| 2000 | 3.4 per cent. |
| 2001 | 3.7 per cent. |
Note:
All staged settlements are shown in full with the date of implementation first, followed by initial payment and date.
Source:
Advance letters, report of review body for nursing staff, midwives and health visitors
NHS Delayed Discharges
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate has been made of the financial effect on the NHS of delayed discharge problems in each of the last three years for which figures are available; [9716]
- (2) what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS as a result of delayed discharges from hospitals in the last 12 months. [9718]
Jacqui Smith: Patients who have their discharge from an acute hospital bed delayed may be awaiting transfer to other national health service care (such as intermediate care), transfer to a nursing or residential care home or for a package of care and support to allow them to return
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to their own home. It is not possible to calculate a meaningful overall monetary cost to the NHS of this delay.
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds have been occupied in each health authority area in England and Wales in each of the latest nine months for which figures are available as a result of delayed discharges. [9717]
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Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Prior to June 2001 only data on delays to patients over 75 were collected centrally. From June 2001 figures have been collected for all adult patients, as well as those over 75, in order to give a more comprehensive picture of the reasons for delayed discharges.