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Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to consult the (a) retiring and (b) incoming chairmen of the Worcestershire acute hospitals NHS trust on their preferred date for the transfer of their responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [25404]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 9 January 2002]: Other than setting the criteria according to which appointments are made, Ministers no longer have any direct role in the appointments process for chairs of national health service trusts. The NHS Appointments Commission now has responsibility for the appointment, training and appraisal of chairs and non-executive board members of NHS trusts, health authorities and primary care trusts.
Health Action Zones
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been invested in health action zones by the NHS in each year since 1997. [27354]
Ms Blears: There are 26 Health Action Zones (HAZs) based in the most deprived areas of the country. Since their inception in 1998 up to the end of the 2001–02 financial year HAZs have received total direct funding of £274.2 million to tackle issues including smoking cessation and drug misuse. Health authorities in HAZ areas have also received £101.8 million Health Inequalities Adjustment funding (HIA).
The table shows the HAZ and HIA funding for 1998 to 2001.
| Core funding(25) | Targeted funding | Health inequalities adjustment | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 7.5 | — | — | 7.5 |
| 1999–2000 | 56.5 | 30 | — | 86.5 |
| 2000–01 | 59.5 | 60 | — | 119.5 |
| 2001–02 | 60.8 | — | 101.8 | 162.6 |
| Total | 184.3 | 90 | 101.8 | 376.1 |
(25) Includes smoking cessation and drug misuse moneys
Note:
Figures have been rounded
Insurance
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by NHS bodies on insurance in each year since 1997. [27252]
Ms Blears: Information about expenditure on insurance by national health service bodies is not centrally collected by the Department.
The risk pooling scheme for trusts (RPST) was introduced in April 1999 as an alternative to purchasing commercial insurance for non-clinical risks, other than motor vehicle insurance. More than 90 per cent. of NHS
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trusts are involved in the scheme. The figures show the net amounts contributed to the pool by trusts between 1999 and 2003:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 12.3 |
| 2000–01 | 17.3 |
| 2001–02(26) | 9.1 |
| 2002–03(26) | 8.3 |
(26) Outstanding amounts left in the pool are rebated two years in arrears. Therefore the 2001–02 figure reflects a rebate of £10.4 million left over from 1999–2000 and the 2002–03 figure reflects a rebate of £12.3 million left over from 2000–01.
Segregated Ablutions
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of trusts have failed to provide segregated washing and toilet facilities for patients. [27234]
Ms Blears: The target date for the provision of segregated washing and toilet facilities for patients is December 2002. National health service trusts are taking action, including construction schemes, to achieve this target and a report will be made at that time.
Blood Donors
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people gave blood in Buckinghamshire in each financial year since 1997. [27780]
Ms Blears: Figures received from the National Blood Service show that the number of blood donors in Buckinghamshire in each financial year since 1997 is shown in the table.
| Financial year | Number of donors(27) | Donations collected |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | (28)— | (28)— |
| 1998–99 | (28)— | 35,378 |
| 1999–2000 | 28,137 | 36,331 |
| 2000–01 | 26,901 | 33,630 |
| 2001–02 | 25,970 | (29)24,905 |
(27) Donor numbers taken at the mid-year point
(28) Unavailable
(29) To date
Out-patients
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many out-patients were waiting for treatment between (a) 0 and 12 weeks, (b) 13 and 25 weeks and (c) over 26 weeks in the Portsmouth hospitals trust areas in (i) 1997, (ii) 1998, (iii) 1999, (iv) 2000 and (vi) 2001. [27681]
Ms Blears [holding answer 16 January 2002]: Information is not collected centrally on out-patients waiting for between 0 and 12 weeks. Information in the table relates to Quarter two figures for the years 1997 to 2001.
| Quarter 2 figures | Not seen 13 to 25 weeks | Not seen 26 weeks plus |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2,273 | 793 |
| 1998 | 2,441 | 861 |
| 1999 | 3,185 | 753 |
| 2000 | 4,748 | 1,274 |
| 2001 | 4,231 | 1,249 |
Note:
The large increase between 1999 and 2000 is the result of incorrect counting procedures. This was picked up by Portsmouth hospitals trust and is now reporting in line with NHS Executive (south-east regional office) guidance.
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Delayed Discharges
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting to leave hospital who were delayed by lack of availability of social services beds in (a) September 2001, (b) October 2001, (c) November 2001 and (d) December 2001 broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement. [28335]
Jacqui Smith: Information is collected centrally on a quarterly basis and is collected on the basis of health authority. Reasons for delay are collected on the basis of "awaiting public funding" and "awaiting care home placement". The second group includes those who are not social services' responsibility. The information available for September 2001 has been placed in the Library—the information for December 2001 is not yet available.
In October 2001 we announced the investment of an additional £300 million over this year and next as part of a radical 'cash for change' programme. This funding has gone to councils to enable them to reduce delayed discharges and targeted on the areas with the most severe problems. We are already seeing reductions in delayed discharge as a result of the funding.
Dentistry
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists (a) are registered and (b) were registered as providing NHS dental treatment (i) in Enfield and (ii) in Haringey in each year since 1997. [28838]
Ms Blears: The number of principal dentists on Enfield and Haringey health authority's list who carry out the majority of their general dental service (GDS) work in that HA area is shown in the table for September in the years 1997 to 2000. Data are also shown for 31 March 2001, the day before the HA was merged with Barnet HA. The total number of GDS dentists is also included in the table.
Separate information for Enfield and Haringey is not available.
Between 1 April 2001 and 30 September 2001 the number of GDS dentists in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey HA increased from 370 to 377 dentists.
| Enfield and Haringey health authority(30) | Principal dentists | All GDS dentists(31) |
|---|---|---|
| September 1997 | 184 | 194 |
| September 1998 | 188 | 198 |
| September 1999 | 189 | 205 |
| September 2000 | 192 | 209 |
| March 2001 | 198 | 213 |
(30) Dentists who do the majority of their work in Enfield and Haringey HA. Excludes dentists in the Enfield and Haringey HA area who do most of their work in other HAs.
(31) All GDS dentists cover principal dentists on the health authority list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
29 Jan 2002 : Column 272W
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what notice dentists are required to give patients of the termination of the availability of NHS treatment; and if he will make a statement. [28839]
Ms Blears: Dentists, as independent contractors, can decide whether or not to accept patients for national health service care and treatment under a continuing care arrangement (for patients over-18 years of age) or under a capitation arrangement (for those under-18).
If a dentist decides to withdraw NHS care arrangements, under the terms of service he has the right to terminate these arrangements, provided that he gives the patients three months notice, in writing, and uses his best endeavours to complete any outstanding treatment, before the arrangements come to an end. He must also notify the health authority accordingly and give details of any care and treatment which he has agreed to provide and which is outstanding, including any arrangements made for completion of that care and treatment.
If a dentist wishes to terminate an arrangement with less than three months notice, he must apply to the HA setting out the reasons and asking the HA to terminate the arrangement. A dentist may ask the HA to terminate the arrangement immediately in the case of violent patients.
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place to assist patients to register with an NHS dentist; what support is provided where a local dentist is not available; and if he will make a statement. [28840]
Ms Blears: We are committed to ensuring that national health service dentistry is available to all who want it through registration with an NHS dentist or via NHS Direct. In supporting this commitment we have invested over £100 million in the last two years. Significant resources have been invested in personal dental service pilots to improve access to NHS dentistry in areas with significant problems.
Registration can play an important role in promoting oral health through strengthening the relationship between patient and dentist. However, many people do not visit a dentist regularly. The systems are now in place for NHS Direct to advise patients in all parts of the country on where they can find a NHS dentist, within locally defined time and distance standards.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS registered dentists there were in the Buckinghamshire health authority area in each year since 1997; [24854]
- (2) how many dental practices in the Buckingham constituency (a) closed and (b) opened in each year since 1997. [24853]
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Ms Blears: The total number of dentists and principals in Buckinghamshire health authority 1997 to 2001 are shown in the table.
| Of which: | ||
|---|---|---|
| At 30 September each year | All GDS dentists | Principal dentists |
| 1997 | 265 | 248 |
| 1998 | 260 | 246 |
| 1999 | 281 | 262 |
| 2000 | 272 | 252 |
| 2001 | 294 | 273 |
(32) Dentists who do the majority of their work in Buckinghamshire HA. Excludes dentists in Buckinghamshire HA area who do most of their work in other HAs.
(33) All GDS dentists covers principal dentists who are on the HA's list, their assistants and vocational dental practitioners.
In addition two Personal Dental Services schemes have commenced since 1997. The number of dentists were as follows:
| Of which: | ||
|---|---|---|
| September each year | Number of dentists | also worked in the GDS |
| 1999 | 13 | 2 |
| 2000 | 18 | 3 |
| 2001 | 27 | 3 |
The number of dental practices in Buckinghamshire health authority that (a) closed and (b) opened is shown in the table for the years 1997 to 2000 and for January to September 2001. This information is not available by parliamentary constituency.
| (a) Practice closed | (b) Practice opened | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 | 8 |
| 1998 | 5 | 9 |
| 1999 | 3 | 4 |
| 2000 | 6 | 10 |
| 2001 (up to end September) | — | — |
(34) Data cover the General Dental Service and Personal Dental Service
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Dorset were registered with an NHS dentist in April (a) 1991, (b) 1996, (c) 1997 and (d) 2001. [30319]
Ms Blears: The table shows the number of adults and children registered with a general dental service dentist in Dorset health authority for each of the years 1996, 1997 and 2001.
Comparable data for 1991 are not available as registrations were only introduced in October 1990 and registration numbers had not yet had time to reach consistent levels.
In September 1996, the registration period for new adult and child registrations was shortened to 15 months. Previously adult registrations lasted for 24 months and child registrations expired at the end of the following calendar year. This affected registration numbers from December 1997 onwards.
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Some people who are not registered with a dentist choose to attend occasionally.
| 30 April each year | Adults | Children | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 304,958 | 99,921 | 404,879 |
| 1997 | 294,422 | 99,667 | 394,089 |
| 2001(35) | 271,711 | 102,348 | 374,059 |
(35) Figures affected by the change in the registration periods to 15 months
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists in Dorset were taking new adult NHS patients in each of the years between 1991 and 2000 for which information is available. [30318]
Ms Blears: The number of general dental service dentists taking new adult patients for national health service treatment in Dorset health authority are estimated to be around 88 in 1999 and around 92 in 2000. These figures are estimates for November of each year, and are based on the number of dentists meeting certain registration criteria (including a minimum level for new adult registrations).
These estimates are not available for years prior to 1999.
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