House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 30 Oct 2001 (pt 23)

Beta Interferon

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his written answer of 15 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1027–28W, on beta interferon, what estimate he has made of the annual additional cost of prescribing beta interferon to 12 per cent. of British sufferers from multiple sclerosis. [9923]

Ms Blears: We have made no such estimate.

Waiting Times

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England have been waiting more than (a) six, (b) 12, (c) 18 and (d) 24 months for an (i) out-patient and (ii) in-patient appointment for each reporting period since 1995; and if he will make a statement. [8926]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 25 October 2001]: The information requested is given in the tables.

A proportion of patients who have waited over 18 and 24 months are awaiting tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures. This is because the National Health Service has been advised only to carry out these procedures (when routine) using single-use supply instruments, due to the theoretical risk of contracting vCJD. There are now sufficient supplies of these instruments; therefore, patients awaiting these procedures should not be waiting as long in the coming months.

Two NHS trusts were responsible for the number of patients waiting over 24 months during the quarters ending March and June 2001. Appropriate corrective action is in place to ensure these patients are treated.

We are determined to reduce waiting times through implementing shorter maximum waiting times. By the end of March 2002, the maximum in-patient waiting time will be 15 months and the maximum waiting time for a first out-patient appointment will be six months.

In-patient waiting times data for England, March 1995 to present

Of those on the list, number who have waited:

Quarter Size of in-patient More than 6 months More than 12 months More than 18 months More than 24 months

March 1995 1,044,051 241,218 32,194 280 121

June 1995 1,052,958 244,360 32,759 118 0

September 1995 1,040,152 243,987 27,938 43 0

December 1995 1,054,948 229,659 20,488 2 0

March 1996 1,048,029 208,484 4,576 14 0

June 1996 1,056,122 223,412 10,399 9 1

September 1996 1,061,557 239,690 14,993 25 1

December 1996 1,104,983 255,482 22,161 123 1

March 1997 1,158,004 289,574 31,208 150 1

June 1997 1,189,962 318,024 46,684 385 13

September 1997 1,207,515 337,739 57,666 794 7

December 1997 1,261,915 367,558 68,332 972 58

March 1998 1,297,662 382,432 68,023 4 0

June 1998 1,287,543 381,937 72,746 0 0

September 1998 1,213,839 347,757 63,480 0 0

December 1998 1,173,598 315,724 56,094 0 0

March 1999 1,072,860 279,627 47,304 0 0

June 1999 1,094,251 279,118 49,442 1 0

September 1999 1,084,157 280,775 50,801 99 3

December 1999 1,108,006 285,440 52,147 105 48

March 2000 1,037,066 268,275 49,046 7 1

June 2000 1,047,890 273,023 51,381 1 0

September 2000 1,031,824 275,204 51,115 2 0

December 2000 1,034,381 267,127 49,215 10 0

March 2001 1,006,727 245,991 42,158 217 54

March 2001⁽³³⁾ — — — 84 0

June 2001 1,037,875 267,160 46,689 356 10

June 2001⁽³³⁾ — — — 205 0

		Of those on the list, number who have waited:
Quarter	Size of in-patient	More than 6 months	More than 12 months	More than 18 months	More than 24 months
March 1995	1,044,051	241,218	32,194	280	121
June 1995	1,052,958	244,360	32,759	118	0
September 1995	1,040,152	243,987	27,938	43	0
December 1995	1,054,948	229,659	20,488	2	0
March 1996	1,048,029	208,484	4,576	14	0
June 1996	1,056,122	223,412	10,399	9	1
September 1996	1,061,557	239,690	14,993	25	1
December 1996	1,104,983	255,482	22,161	123	1
March 1997	1,158,004	289,574	31,208	150	1
June 1997	1,189,962	318,024	46,684	385	13
September 1997	1,207,515	337,739	57,666	794	7
December 1997	1,261,915	367,558	68,332	972	58
March 1998	1,297,662	382,432	68,023	4	0
June 1998	1,287,543	381,937	72,746	0	0
September 1998	1,213,839	347,757	63,480	0	0
December 1998	1,173,598	315,724	56,094	0	0
March 1999	1,072,860	279,627	47,304	0	0
June 1999	1,094,251	279,118	49,442	1	0
September 1999	1,084,157	280,775	50,801	99	3
December 1999	1,108,006	285,440	52,147	105	48
March 2000	1,037,066	268,275	49,046	7	1
June 2000	1,047,890	273,023	51,381	1	0
September 2000	1,031,824	275,204	51,115	2	0
December 2000	1,034,381	267,127	49,215	10	0
March 2001	1,006,727	245,991	42,158	217	54
March 2001⁽³³⁾	—	—	—	84	0
June 2001	1,037,875	267,160	46,689	356	10
June 2001⁽³³⁾	—	—	—	205	0

⁽³³⁾ Number of T&As

Source:

KH07 quarterly waiting times return. Department of Health

30 Oct 2001 : Column: 651W

30 Oct 2001 : Column: 652W

Out-patient waiting times data for England, March 1995 to present

Of those still waiting at quarter end for a first out-patient appointment following GP referral, number who have waited:

Quarter More than 6 months More than 12 months More than 18 months More than 24 months

March 1995 n/a n/a n/a n/a

June 1995 87,398 n/a n/a n/a

September 1995 72,667 n/a n/a n/a

December 1995 60,894 n/a n/a n/a

March 1996 58,503 n/a n/a n/a

June 1996 52,382 n/a n/a n/a

September 1996 61,936 n/a n/a n/a

December 1996 68,495 n/a n/a n/a

March 1997 70,689 n/a n/a n/a

June 1997 84,983 n/a n/a n/a

September 1997 90,112 n/a n/a n/a

December 1997 106,961 n/a n/a n/a

March 1998 112,250 n/a n/a n/a

June 1998 108,684 n/a n/a n/a

September 1998 126,312 n/a n/a n/a

December 1998 144,404 n/a n/a n/a

March 1999 152,787 n/a n/a n/a

June 1999 145,896 n/a n/a n/a

September 1999 149,247 n/a n/a n/a

December 1999 159,211 n/a n/a n/a

March 2000 132,223 n/a n/a n/a

June 2000 130,335 n/a n/a n/a

September 2000 125,840 n/a n/a n/a

December 2000 113,618 n/a n/a n/a

March 2001 81,847 n/a n/a n/a

June 2001 85,099 n/a n/a n/a

	Of those still waiting at quarter end for a first out-patient appointment following GP referral, number who have waited:
Quarter	More than 6 months	More than 12 months	More than 18 months	More than 24 months
March 1995	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 1995	87,398	n/a	n/a	n/a
September 1995	72,667	n/a	n/a	n/a
December 1995	60,894	n/a	n/a	n/a
March 1996	58,503	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 1996	52,382	n/a	n/a	n/a
September 1996	61,936	n/a	n/a	n/a
December 1996	68,495	n/a	n/a	n/a
March 1997	70,689	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 1997	84,983	n/a	n/a	n/a
September 1997	90,112	n/a	n/a	n/a
December 1997	106,961	n/a	n/a	n/a
March 1998	112,250	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 1998	108,684	n/a	n/a	n/a
September 1998	126,312	n/a	n/a	n/a
December 1998	144,404	n/a	n/a	n/a
March 1999	152,787	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 1999	145,896	n/a	n/a	n/a
September 1999	149,247	n/a	n/a	n/a
December 1999	159,211	n/a	n/a	n/a
March 2000	132,223	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 2000	130,335	n/a	n/a	n/a
September 2000	125,840	n/a	n/a	n/a
December 2000	113,618	n/a	n/a	n/a
March 2001	81,847	n/a	n/a	n/a
June 2001	85,099	n/a	n/a	n/a

Source:

QM08 quarterly waiting times return. Department of Health

Ambulance Services

Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) ambulances, (b) paramedics and (c) ambulance medical technicians there were in Sussex in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [10397]

Ms Blears: Figures for the number of ambulances and ambulance medical technicians are not collected centrally.

The number of ambulance staff in Sussex for each year at 30 September are in the table.

Year Paramedics Other ambulance personnel

2000 230 350

1999 240 310

1998 210 370

1997 230 390

1996 220 280

Year	Paramedics	Other ambulance personnel
2000	230	350
1999	240	310
1998	210	370
1997	230	390
1996	220	280

Source:

Department of Health Non-medical work force census

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) for what reason ambulance services in Hampshire are to be reorganised; [10572]

30 Oct 2001 : Column: 653W

(3) how many representations during the consultation on reorganising ambulance services in the south-east were in favour of the proposals; [10574]

(4) if he will make a statement on the consultation on reorganising ambulance services in the south-east. [10577]

Ms Blears: Over 100 bodies and individuals responded to the consultation proposals. The South East Regional Office of the Department will make a detailed summary to Ministers shortly.

Anthrax

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has concerning the possible continuing incidence of anthrax at the former Thanet Isolation (Haine) hospital; and if he will make a statement on possible long-term contamination of the burial grounds. [11142]

Ms Blears: I have been advised by the Director of Public Health at East Kent health authority that there is no risk of anthrax from this site to the general public or anyone working at the Haine hospital site.

In the event of graves being excavated, workers should be advised to take normal precautions to prevent infection from pathogens in soil; namely the use of protective gloves and washable or disposable overalls.

NHS Boards (Disabilities)

Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the chairs and non-executive directors of NHS boards have a disability. [11415]

Ms Blears: The proportion of those appointed to National Health Service boards who identify themselves as being disabled is shown in the tables.

Disabled candidates appointed to National Health Service Boards at 29 October 2001

Total Number disabled Per cent. disabled

Chairs

Health authorities 90 2 2.2

NHS trusts 304 2 0.7

Primary care trusts 166 8 4.8

Special health authorities 16 0 0

Total 576 12 2.08

Non-executives (NEDs)

Health authorities 480 18 3.8

NHS trusts 1,547 45 2.9

Primary care trusts 773 49 6.3

Special health authorities 274 11 4.0

Total 3,074 123 4.0

Total chairs and NEDs 3.641 135 3.7

	Total	Number disabled	Per cent. disabled
Chairs
Health authorities	90	2	2.2
NHS trusts	304	2	0.7
Primary care trusts	166	8	4.8
Special health authorities	16	0	0

Total	576	12	2.08

Non-executives (NEDs)
Health authorities	480	18	3.8
NHS trusts	1,547	45	2.9
Primary care trusts	773	49	6.3
Special health authorities	274	11	4.0

Total	3,074	123	4.0

Total chairs and NEDs	3.641	135	3.7

NHS Appointments Commission

Dr. Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the names of the chair and

30 Oct 2001 : Column: 654W

members of the new Independent NHS Appointments Commission and indicate how they were (a) selected and (b) appointed. [11251]

Ms Blears: The membership of the National Health Service Appointments Commission is as follows:

Chair:

Sir William Wells

Regional Commissioners:

Eastern—Mrs. Rosie Varley

London—Sir Ian Mills

North West—Mr. Michael Taylor

Northern and Yorkshire—Dr. John Marshall

South East—Mr. Bernard Williams

South West—Mrs. Gillian Camm

Trent—Mrs. Brenda Sills

West Midlands—Mrs. Jane Isaacs.

The posts were advertised nationally and the appointments procedures followed were in line with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, involving interview panels including an independent assessor. A copy of the information pack sent to all candidates is in the Library. This includes the job descriptions and the qualities required of the chair and commissioners.

Next Section

Index

Home Page