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Nutrition

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what targets his Department has set for the reduction of under-nutrition; and what progress has been made to reach the targets; [12915]

(2) what strategies the Government have in place to (a) manage and (b) monitor under-nutrition in (i) hospital, (ii) residential care and (iii) the wider community; and if he will make a statement; [12916]

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(3) what measures are being taken to screen patients for under-nutrition in (a) hospitals, (b) residential care and (c) the wider community; and if he will make a statement. [12917]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 6 November 2001]: In the NHS Plan, we made a commitment to reduce under-nutrition by developing a hospital nutrition policy to improve the outcome of care of patients by 2004. A number of measures and strategies are in place to manage, monitor and screen patients for under-nutrition in hospitals, residential care and the wider community. A full list of these initiatives has been placed in the Library.

We recognise that one of the most important factors in aiding hospital patients to gain improved health is through the provision of good quality nutritional food that the patient is able to eat and enjoy. Two reports published last year—from the Nuffield Trust and the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition—made recommendations for hospital nutrition services encompassing both hospital food and artificial nutrition.

We are introducing housekeepers on to ward teams to work with the ward sister. One of the key responsibilities of the housekeeper is to ensure that patients are given encouragement and assistance in not only choosing suitable meals and snacks but also with eating if required. From 14 November, a housekeeping guide will be able on

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the national health service estates website. This guide has been compiled after consultation with NHS trusts and all staffing groups, ie dieticians, nurses, caterers, facilities, estates and hotel services. Patients have also been involved with the guide and have been instrumental in establishing the 11 patient-focused national service standards for housekeepers.

Ambulance Services

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent each ambulance service in England met Government performance targets in the most recent year for which information is available; what the cost of each service was for that year; and what the cost per head of population of providing each service was in that year. [12926]

Ms Blears [holding answer 6 November 2001]: Information about response times to emergency calls for all national health service ambulance trusts is contained in the Department of Health Statistical Bulletin "Ambulance Services, England 2000–01". A copy is in the Library and available at www.doh.uk/public/sb0115.htm.

Information on the cost of each service and the cost per head of population of providing each service is specified in the table (the most recent available figures are for 2000–01).

NHS trust	Expenditure (£000)	Per weighted head population (£)
Avon Ambulance Service NHS Trust	14,522	15.40
Beds and Herts Ambulance and Paramedic NHS Trust	23,902	16.02
Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust	9,753	19.82
Dorset Ambulance NHS Trust	12,575	18.09
East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust	33,029	16.36
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust	45,090	16.13
Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust	27,242	18.24
Gloucestershire Ambulance Services NHS Trust	8,593	16.70
Greater Manchester Ambulance NHS Trust	35,195	12.55
Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	21,111	13.94
Hereford and Worcester Ambulance NHS Trust	12,080	19.02
Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust	2,455	17.95
Kent Ambulance NHS Trust	21,743	14.46
Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	27,150	18.02
Lincolnshire Ambulance NHS Trust	17,660	18.80
London Ambulance Service NHS Trust	119,785	15.01
Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust	30,248	12.01
North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust	29,127	17.47
Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust	9,900	18.27
Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service Trust	13,970	19.19
S Yorks Met Amb and Paramed Serv NHS Trust	16,848	12.04
Shropshire's Community and Mental HS NHS Trust	6,340	15.87
Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	16,218	16.09
Surrey Ambulance Service NHS Trust	19,518	20.55
Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust	27,872	18.19
Tees East and Nth Yorkshire Amb Serv NHS Trust	32,276	17.33
Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust	18,835	16.75
Warwickshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	9,328	20.34
West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust	39,167	14.21
West Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	45,173	20.82
West Country Ambulance Services NHS Trust	40,493	19.97
Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust	9,744	17.99

Hearing Aids

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for North Devon (Mr. Harvey), on 25 April 2001, Official Report, columns 171–72W, on hearing aids, what plans his Department has to ensure funding for the continued provision of digital hearing aids under the modernising NHS hearing aids services project throughout the financial year 2002–03; [13779]

(2) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Kidney) of 11 July 2001, Official Report, column 508, on digital hearing aids, at what date

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following the presentation of the Institute of Hearing Research's final evaluation report he will make an announcement about extending changes in hearing aid services to all NHS audiology departments. [13746]

Jacqui Smith: The evaluation of the modernisation project will be taken into account when considering further investment next year in a national health service hearing aid service, which includes the provision of digital hearing aids. The Department has received interim evaluation reports from the Institute of Hearing Research, and will continue to be updated on progress. Planning and decisions on modernisation and associated funding and resources are being kept under review until further data can start to be taken into account.

National Blood Service

Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations and individuals make up the National Blood Service's appropriate use of blood and blood components group. [13508]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The membership of the National Blood Service Appropriate Use of Blood group is:

Chairman:

Dr. Angela Robinson—Medical Director, National Blood Service

Members:

Dr. Paula Bolton-Maggs—Consultant Haemotologist, Alder Hey Hospital

Carol Cantwall—Chief Biomedical Scientist, St. Mary's Hospital, London

Prof. Marcela Contreras—National Blood Service

Jan Gordon—Transfusion Nurse, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

Dr. Virge James—National Blood Service

Charles McCollum—Professor of Surgery, Manchester

Prof. Paul McMaster—Hepatobiliary and Transplant Surgeon, Birmingham

Dr. Mike Murphy—National Blood Service

Stuart Penny—National Blood Service

Dr. Fiona Regan—National Blood Service

Liz Reynolds—National Blood Service

Dr. Clare Taylor—National Blood Service

Dr. Dafydd Thomas—Consultant, Morriston Hospital

John Thompson—Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital

Dr. Dorothy Stainsby—National Blood Service

Brian Chaves—National Blood Service

Dr. Liz Love—National Blood Service

John McCoy—National Blood Service.

Traditional Medicines Directive

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representation he intends to make to the European Commission about the proposed traditional medicines directive. [13851]

Ms Blears [holding answer 12 November 2001]: The United Kingdom comments on early drafts of the proposal for a directive on traditional medicinal products were set out in letters from the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) to the European Commission dated 18 December 2000 and 30 April 2001. Copies of these letters have been placed in the Library. The Commission has indicated that

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it expects shortly to adopt proposals for new provisions on traditional herbal medicinal products. We will decide what further representations may be required once we have assessed these updated proposals.

Psychosis

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if it is his policy that by 2004 all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis should be offered the choice of being prescribed atypical medicines. [13849]

Jacqui Smith [holding answer 12 November 2001]: As indicated in the mental health policy implementation guide, early intervention in psychosis teams should use either low dose traditional or atypical antipsychotics in first line treatment and they should involve service users in decision making and monitoring of effects. The NHS Plan states that by 2004 all young people who experience a first episode of psychosis, such as schizophrenia, will receive the early and intensive support they need.

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