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CT/MRI Scanners
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) CT and (b) MRI scanners are in working use per head of population in each health authority area in England and Wales. [24664]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 8 January 2002]: There are currently approximately 5.7 CT scanners and 3.7 MRI scanners per million head of population in England. By the time that central programmes are complete in 2004 these figures will have risen to approximately 7.1 and 5.2 per million respectively.
To provide these figures for every health authority in England would require disproportionate effort. However a breakdown by region has been provided in the tables.
Information regarding CT and MRI provision in Wales is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
| Region | MRI scanners per region (December 2001) | Population | MRI scanners per million population (2001) | MRI scanners per region—post NOF programmes 2003 | MRI scanners per million—post programmes 2003 | MRI scanners per million—post programmes 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 18 | 5,377,003 | 3.35 | 20 | 3.72 | — |
| London | 44 | 7,187,272 | 6.12 | 46 | 6.40 | — |
| North and Yorks | 23 | 6,339,044 | 3.63 | 26 | 4.10 | — |
| North West | 26 | 6,603,991 | 3.94 | 28 | 4.24 | — |
| South and West | 18 | 4,901,316 | 3.67 | 20 | 4.08 | — |
| South East | 29 | 8,619,633 | 3.36 | 32 | 3.71 | — |
| Trent | 14 | 5,133,802 | 2.73 | 19 | 3.70 | — |
| West Midlands | 15 | 5,332,521 | 2.81 | 19 | 3.56 | — |
| Total | 187 | 49,494,582 | (31)3.70 | 210 | (31)4.19 | (32)5.20 |
(30) This table shows a regional breakdown of MRI installed in the NHS to date and on completion of central equipment programmes
(31) Average
(32) Projected average
(33) This table shows a regional breakdown of CT installed in the NHS to date and on completion of central equipment programmes
(34) Average
(35) Projected average
Note:
For both CT and MRI London appears to have significantly larger numbers of machines per head of population than other regions. However, these figures are based on resident population and do not take account of the patients referred into London from elsewhere.
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Surgical Instruments
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the extent of re-use of single-use surgical instruments in hospital trusts; what action has been taken against hospital trusts found to be re-using surgical instruments designated for single use only; and which items of surgical equipment in general hospital surgical theatres are normally designated for single use only. [24667]
Jacqui Smith: Designation of medical devices as single use is a matter for the device manufacturer. The Department has advised national health service trusts on a number of occasions that they should not re-use single use devices. Any trust found doing so during the recent comprehensive survey was advised to cease and such cessation was made part of the action plan.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of hospital trusts in England and Wales have an infection control policy in place regarding surgical instrument sterilisation. [24675]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 8 January 2002]: The Department does not routinely collect information about the details of national health service trusts' infection control policies. There is, however, a controls assurance standard dealing with infection control. This requires NHS trusts to ensure that written policies, procedures and guidance for the prevention and control of infection are implemented and reflect relevant legislation and published professional guidance, including that on decontamination and the reprocessing of re-usable medical devices.
Air Ambulances
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many air ambulances there are; and what plans he has to increase this number; [24683]
- (2) what his Department is doing to encourage increased corporate sponsorship of air ambulances. [24684]
Ms Blears [holding answer 8 January 2002]: In England, there are 12 air ambulance services provided by 12 independent air ambulance charities. These charities are responsible for the number of aircraft provided.
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Fund raising for air ambulances is organised by independent local charities. On all primary missions, air ambulances are called out directly to emergencies by the local ambulance service. Partnerships between the national health service and a whole range of charitable organisations can bring additional benefits to patients in particular circumstances.
GP Retirements
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners are due to retire in (a) Pendle and (b) the East Lancashire health authority in each year up to 2005; and what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of younger general practitioners so that no practice closes. [24979]
Mr. Hutton: Figures are not available centrally in the requested format. However, during 2002–03, 14 general practitioners in the East Lancashire health authority area are expected to retire. A further eight GPs are due to retire during 2003–04.
18 GPs currently within the Pendle Primary Care Group are aged over 55.
East Lancashire health authority are pursuing a number of initiatives both in the long and short term to help address the problems in recruiting and retaining GPs.
- Note:
- These figures have been extracted from a study by Lancashire university in 1998 relating to work force planning for general medical and other primary care staff.
Asthma
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will prepare a national service framework for asthma. [24981]
Jacqui Smith: There are currently no plans to establish a national service framework for asthma.
Belarus
Mr. Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to complete an inter-country adoption agreement with Belarus. [25153]
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Jacqui Smith [holding answer 9 January 2002]: An inter-country adoption agreement is currently being drawn up between the United Kingdom and Belarus. The wording of the agreement is being finalised. Once this has been done, it will be signed by both countries in due course.
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the Royal College of General Practitioners about recognising ME as a clinical condition by GPs; [25393]
- (2) what research his Department has commissioned into the diagnosis and treatment of ME; [25394]
(3) if he will issue guidance to health authorities to ensure that ME is recognised as a clinical condition by GPs and that patients are referred to appropriate specialists. [25395]
Jacqui Smith: We have not had specific discussions with the Royal College of General Practitioners about this issue. However the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME independent Working Group's report which was published on 11 January has been placed on the Chief Medical Officer's website so that it can be accessed by all interested parties including general practitioners. The report and the summary for clinicians should result in improved awareness and understanding of this condition.
ME is mainly managed in primary care. The range of symptoms and other conditions associated with it should be investigated and treated by the most appropriate primary, community or secondary care service. Some patients are seen by neurologists, rheumatologists and psychiatrists.
The Department has commissioned research into the diagnosis and treatment of ME/CFS and details are available on the National Research Register which can be accessed via the Department's research and development website—www.doh.gov.uk/research. The Department has asked the Medical Research Council to develop a broad strategy for advancing biomedical and health services research on chronic fatigue syndrome.
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