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Deep Vein Thrombosis
Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution his Department will make to the World Health Organisation study into deep vein thrombosis and air travel. [16319]
Jacqui Smith: The Department, in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is planning to make a contribution to the World Health Organisation study in terms of financial support and the provision of advice, the details of which are under consideration.
Palliative Care
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the money assigned to palliative care over three years has been spent; and if he will make a statement on how it was spent. [16353]
Jacqui Smith: By 2004 the national health service will be investing an additional £50 million which will match, on a national basis, the investment made by the voluntary sector. We will be monitoring the information from financial frameworks and cancer network service delivery plans to ensure that this investment is happening.
Plasmapheresis
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision there is in the NHS for the treatment of severe sensitivity to light by plasmapheresis. [17144]
Mr. Hutton: Facilities for plasmapheresis are available in many large national health service haematology or immunology departments. We are not aware, however, of any photosensitive eruption for which it is routine treatment and for which the NHS would provide facilities.
Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average cost per patient of prescribing atypical antipsychotic drugs. [17222]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 22 November 2001]: Information on the number of patients prescribed atypical antipsychotic drugs is not available.
The average net ingredient cost per prescription item for atypical antipsychotic drugs dispensed in the community in England in 2000 was £70.06.
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The Department has asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to appraise the clinical and cost effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic drugs.
Operations
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of operations carried out under the NHS were performed in the private sector in the last 12 months. [19381]
Mr. Hutton: This information is not available in the form requested.
The Department has recently surveyed health authorities and trusts on the amount of activity they are purchasing for national health service patients within the private sector and will publish key results in due course. The Department is also currently reviewing its information needs as far as NHS-funded activity in the private sector is concerned.
Primary Care Trusts
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria will be used to allocate funding to primary care trusts. [19197]
Mr. Hutton: We currently allocate funding to health authorities, and they allocate funding to primary care trusts, on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and primary care trust's fair share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need.
In future the intention is that allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts. This is subject to the passage of legislation through Parliament. Allocations will continue to be based on the principle of weighted capitation.
Waiting Times
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were waiting for (a) in-patient treatment and (b) out-patient appointments in each quarter of (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 for (a) less than six months, (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 and 18 months and (d) over 18 months. [19196]
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Mr. Hutton: The number of inpatients waiting less than six months; between six and 12 months; between 12 and 18 months; and over 18 months in each quarter of 2000 and 2001 are given in the table.
More than half of the patients waiting over 18 months at end September 2001 are awaiting single use instruments for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. 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. A sufficient supply of these instruments is now available, therefore we expect that the number of patients waiting for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy procedures on the list will start to reduce and we will be able to ensure treatment of actual and potential over 18 month waiters in the coming months.
| Number of patients waiting | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter ending | Less than 6 months | 6–12 months | 12–18 months | More than 18 months |
| March 2000 | 768,791 | 219,229 | 49,039 | 7 |
| June 2000 | 774,867 | 221,642 | 61,380 | 1 |
| September 2000 | 756,620 | 224,089 | 51,113 | 2 |
| December 2000 | 767,254 | 217,912 | 49,205 | 10 |
| March 2001 | 760,736 | 203,833 | 41,941 | 217 |
| June 2001 | 770,715 | 220,471 | 46,333 | 356 |
| September 2001 | 757,846 | 232,786 | 44,462 | 208 |
Source:
Department of Health—KH07 quarterly return
Data are not collected on the number of outpatients waiting in the time frames requested. However, data are collected on the number of outpatients waiting between three months and six months; and over six months. These data have been given in the table.
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| Number still waiting | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quarter ending | 13–25 weeks | Over 26 weeks |
| March 2000 | 269,385 | 132,223 |
| June 2000 | 314,157 | 130,335 |
| September 2000 | 309,928 | 125,840 |
| December 2000 | 285,519 | 113,618 |
| March 2001 | 201,981 | 81,847 |
| June 2001 | 274,421 | 85,099 |
| September 2001 | 307,248 | 92,821 |
Source:
Department of Health—QMO8 quarterly return
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for (a) each health authority and (b) in total, (i) the authority-wide resident-based (A) in- patient and (B) daycase waiting list target for March 2002, (ii) the authority-wide profiled target for such cases for October 2001, (iii) the number of patients waiting for (1) in-patient and (2) daycase treatment in October 2001, (iv) the difference between (i) and (iii) and (v) the difference between (ii) and (iv). [19320]
Mr. Hutton: The latest information is given in the table. Data for October 2001 are not available until 7 December; therefore September 2001 data have been provided instead. There is a single profile for in-patients covering daycases and ordinary admissions.
Profiles are a management tool to ensure maintenance of the manifesto commitment. They are used to review progress, and to inform discussion between the Department and health authorities. The manifesto commitment was achieved in March 2000 and has been maintained since.
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