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Departmental Underspend
Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total underspend in his Department was on (a) capital and (b) non-capital expenditure in each financial year since May 1997. [34028]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 7 February 2002]: The information requested is given in the table.
| Year | Capital | Non-capital |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 124 | 56 |
| 1998–99 | 106 | 177 |
| 1999–2000 | 220 | -44 |
| 2000–01 | 142 | 550 |
Notes
1. Figures for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 based on Department of Health Appropriation Accounts adjusted for NHS trust non-voted expenditure.
2. 2000–01 figures are provisional and on a resource basis. They are not comparable with previous years. They include £250 million carry forward of the Department's unallocated provision.
3. A negative sign denotes an overspend on that part of the vote.
Personal Social Services
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility social services authorities have to identify unmet need for care and personal social services. [34361]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 7 February 2002]: Recent guidance issued by the Department "Building capacity and partnership in care" reminds councils with social services responsibilities that they should commission services on the basis of rounded assessments of current and future needs within the general population, and they should identify gaps and shortfalls in services in the context of service users' aspirations.
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At a practical level, councils should take account of the numbers of people who approach them for help, and their presenting problems, but who are not eligible for council support. They will be assisted in this task through reference to the Department's statistical return "Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care". Councils may use this information when reviewing their eligibility criteria and the services they provide.
In addition, once councils with social services responsibilities have identified needs that fall within their eligibility criteria, they should meet those needs in the most cost-effective way. Councils should monitor and review the provision of care services to individuals to ensure that services remain appropriate and suitable and that assessed needs are met.
International Recruitment
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 781W, on international recruitment, if he will list those international nursing recruitment agencies which have failed to adhere to the code of practice; and where he publishes such information. [34864]
Mr. Hutton: There are no plans to publish the names of the international nursing recruitment agencies who fail to adhere to the Code of Practice. We do not plan to publish a list of those international nursing recruitment agencies who have signed up to comply with the code.
Overseas Treatment
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects anonymised data to be available to allow him to publish the cost of sending patients abroad for treatment. [34769]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 8 February 2002]: The test bed scheme will finish later this year and is being evaluated. We will make further information on prices available in the light of the evaluation of the scheme.
Eating Disorders
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the 2000–01 figures for hospital admissions in respect of eating disorders. [35088]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 11 February 2002]: There were 1,700 finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of eating disorder in 2000–01. These figures have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data and therefore have a provisional status.
Care Homes
John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance he has published regarding items for which a deduction may be made from the personal expenses allowance by a care home; and if he will make a statement; [34695]
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- (2) whether deductions may be made from the personal expenses allowance for people in care homes to meet (a) any shortfall in fees and (b) items and services; [34696]
(3) if he will make it his policy that older people in care homes should not be required to contribute part of the personal expenses allowance to meet a shortfall in fees unless it is their express wish to do so. [34698]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 12 February 2002]: Under National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) Regulations, council-supported residents in care homes should receive a personal expenses allowance, currently standing at £16.05 per week. It is for the residents' personal use and the full amount should be made available to residents. It may not be spent on services contracted by councils from homes, and should not be spent on services to meet assessed need identified by either the council or the national health service.
Because services to meet assessed needs should be tailored to each individual's specific circumstances, it is not helpful to publish definitive lists of what the personal expenses allowance should or should not be spent on.
Subject to informed consent and prior agreement, residents may have arrangements with care home managers so that items and services, which do not form part of the contract with the council and are not part of council or NHS services to meet assessed need, are automatically paid for out of the personal expenses allowance.
Residents, except those subject to the 12 weeks property disregard or a deferred payments agreement, should not use resources either disregarded or not taken into account by the financial assessment for council- supported residential care to pay for more expensive accommodation than the council would normally fund. These resources include the personal expenses allowance. These matters are covered in guidance issued to councils.
Care home residents whose entitlement to higher rates of income support was preserved in 1993 also receive a personal expenses allowance through income support regulations. This allowance is meant for residents' own use on small personal items. In limited circumstances, preserved rights residents who have difficulty in meeting care home fees may be financially helped by councils. The responsibility for preserved rights cases is transferred to councils in April 2002. These residents will be entitled to the personal expenses allowance under National Assistance regulations.
Angioplasty (North Yorkshire)
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the cancellation of proposed coronary angioplasty procedures for patients in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [35555]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 12 February 2002]: North Yorkshire health authority is aware that concerns have been raised about provision of angioplasty services for local residents due to a misunderstanding in communication for which the health authority took full responsibility. This position has been clarified with all
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cardiologists and patients. Cardiologists across North Yorkshire continue to treat patients and provide angioplasty in accordance with normal clinical practice.
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the decision by North Yorkshire Health authority not to fund proposed coronary angioplasty procedures for patients who had been referred to Leeds Health Trust by consultants at York District hospital as in need of urgent treatment. [35556]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 12 February 2002]: Cardiologists across North Yorkshire continue to treat patients and provide angioplasty in accordance with normal clinical practice. Whenever the procedure takes place, North Yorkshire health authority will provide the required funding. The health authority has clarified this position with all cardiologists serving local residents.
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide the necessary emergency funding to North Yorkshire health authority to ensure that all patients in the county requiring coronary angioplasty procedures can leave their treatment carried out at Leeds General Infirmary. [35557]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 12 February 2002]: All patients requiring angioplasty are proceeding with their treatment in accordance with usual clinical practice. By the end of the current financial year North Yorkshire health authority is likely to have spent around £450,000 extra, treating patients in need of this procedure. Discussions are ongoing with regard to identifying resources to match the clinical need in 2002–03.
Student Midwives
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants are made available to student midwives. [35508]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 12 February 2002]: National health service bursaries are available to those accepted onto NHS-funded pre-registration midwifery training programmes at both diploma and degree levels.
Those undertaking the diploma-level qualification receive a non-means tested bursary (currently £5,305 (£6,232 in London)), while those on the degree-level programme receive a means tested bursary (current rate £2,098 (£2,578 in London)) and student loan. Degree-level students receive additional payments to take account of the longer length of academic year undertaken by health professional students and for both groups additional allowances are available to older students, single parents and others with dependants.
In addition the NHS meets all students' liability for a tuition fee contribution (currently £1,075) on their behalf, in full and without means testing.
With effect from September 2001 the basic bursaries were increased by 10.4 per cent. coupled with a 2.4 per cent. inflation increase in the additional allowances and other elements of the bursary scheme. This was the biggest increase since the introduction of the bursary more than 10 years ago.
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Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist to help student midwives complete their courses in the event of financial hardship. [35507]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 12 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 851W, which detailed the additional support available to student nurses who experience financial hardship. The same package is available to student midwives experiencing similar difficulties.
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