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National Institute for Clinical Excellence
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring his Department has undertaken to ensure that NICE guidance is fully implemented for each
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technology appraisal undertaken by NICE where the technology was recommended as suitable for use within the NHS. [15966]
Ms Blears [holding answer 20 November 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) on 5 November 2001, Official Report, column 119W.
Small Acute Hospitals (Emergency Admissions)
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons regarding the future of smaller acute hospitals which take emergency admissions. [16457]
Ms Blears [holding answer 20 November 2001]: Ministers hold regular meetings with the royal colleges to discuss developments in the NHS.
I will be meeting Professor Alberti, President of the Royal College of Physicians in the near future to discuss issues around acute medicine and emergency services with particular reference to acute hospitals.
Nuffield Trust
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the Nuffield Trust report, "Local Medical Emergency Units: Learning Set Interim". [16456]
Ms Blears [holding answer 20 November 2001]: This is a useful and interesting interim report offering some alternative thinking on the idea of localised medical care provision brought about by technological developments in communications.
This will undoubtedly make an important contribution to the on-going debate around service development.
Beef Imports
Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken to ensure that beef imported from other countries, from which spinal cord tissue has not been removed, is safe. [16284]
Ms Blears [holding answer 20 November 2001]: Where consignments of imported carcase beef are found with spinal cord still attached, and the age of the animals at slaughter or the countries of origin of the consignment means that such spinal cord is defined as specified risk material, the whole of the carcase or part carcase containing the spinal cord is detained and destroyed and is not permitted to enter the human food or animal food chains.
Ward Housekeepers
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ward housekeepers were in post using the most recent figures available, broken down by (a) region and (b) health authority. [16762]
Ms Blears [holding answer 21 November 2001]: The NHS plan set the target that:
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| Region | Number of wards with housekeeping service |
|---|---|
| Northern and Yorkshire | 409 |
| Trent | 309 |
| West Midlands | 240 |
| North West | 177 |
| Eastern | 220 |
| London | 276 |
| South East | 426 |
| South West | 209 |
| Total | 2,266 |
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Winter Plan 2001
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the 2001 winter plan. [16842]
Ms Blears: We expect to publish the winter plan in early December.
Tuberculosis Vaccine
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of 10 to 14-year-olds are inoculated against tuberculosis in each health authority in the latest year for which figures are available. [16840]
Jacqui Smith: The information available for children aged 10 to 15 immunised against tuberculosis (BCG) is contained in table 8 of the statistical bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2000–01". The information is by the national health service trust whose staff immunised the child, and not by the child's health authority of residence.
A copy of the bulletin is in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/ public/sb0121.htm.
Consultant Neurologists
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant neurologist (a) vacancies and (b) posts there were in 2000; and how many of the consultant neurologists in post in 2000 were (i) full-time and (ii) part-time. [16806]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 22 November 2001]: The number of consultant neurologists employed and the type of contract they held in September 2000 are shown in the table.
| All staff | |
|---|---|
| All staff | 330 |
| Full time | 230 |
| Maximum part-time | — |
| Part-time | 40 |
| Honorary | 60 |
Source:
Department of Health 2000 medical and dental workforce census
Information is not collected centrally on the number of consultant neurologist posts and vacancies.
Cirencester Hospital
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had with (a) East Gloucestershire health trust, (b) Cotswold and Stroud primary care group and (c) Gloucestershire health authority about proposed changes to the range of services offered at Cirencester hospital with particular reference to the A&E Department; [16876]
- (2) what discussions he has had with Gloucestershire ambulance trust about the provision for an additional ambulance for residents in Cirencester who need to travel longer distances to other hospitals following a curtailment of services at Cirencester. [16877]
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Ms Blears [holding answer 22 November 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions about the future of services at Cirencester hospital. This is a matter for the local national health service bodies.
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