House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 11 Mar 2002 (pt 53)

Surgical Instruments

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department will take with NHS trusts who are found to be persistently reusing single-use surgical instruments having previously been advised to cease such actions. [42262]

Ms Blears: The Department has advised national health service trusts on a number of occasions that they should not reuse instruments designated as single use. We would regard doing so as a serious breach of governance. The

11 Mar 2002 : Column 854W

specific action to be taken in a particular case would need to be determined in the light of the individual circumstances of the case.

Oncology Specialists

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many working time equivalent oncology specialists have been employed in each of the last five years by (a) the Worthing and Southlands Hospital Trust and (b) the Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust. [42279]

Ms Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.

Hospital medical staff within Brighton Health Care NHS Trust and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust in the medical oncology and clinical oncology specialties—as at 30 SeptemberWhole time equivalents

All oncology Clinical oncology Medical oncology

All Consultant All Consultant All Consultant

1997

Brighton Health Care Trust 10 ⁽⁷⁶⁾— 10 ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

1998

Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 10 10 10 10 ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

1999

Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 10 10 10 10 ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾—

2000

Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 10 10 10 10 ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾—

2001

Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 10 10 10 10 ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾—

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁷⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾— ⁽⁷⁶⁾—

	All oncology	Clinical oncology	Medical oncology
	All	Consultant	All	Consultant	All	Consultant
1997
Brighton Health Care Trust	10	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	10	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—
Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—

1998
Brighton Health Care NHS Trust	10	10	10	10	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—
Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—

1999
Brighton Health Care NHS Trust	10	10	10	10	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—
Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—

2000
Brighton Health Care NHS Trust	10	10	10	10	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—
Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—

2001
Brighton Health Care NHS Trust	10	10	10	10	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—
Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁷⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—	⁽⁷⁶⁾—

⁽⁷⁶⁾ Denotes five or less

⁽⁷⁷⁾ Denotes zero

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest 10

Source:

Department of Health medical and dental work force census

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Administration and Estates Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define what categories of staff come under the heading Administration and Estates Staff. [42330]

Mr. Hutton: The following staff groups are collected under the heading "administration and estates staff" in the non-medical work force census; senior manager, manager, clerical and administrative, maintenance and works and unclassified. This includes clerical and administrative staff who support clinicians.

Administration and estates staff can work in central functions, hotel and property, scientific, therapeutic and technical support, clinical support and ambulance service support.

Since 1997 the number of administration and estates staff working in the national health service has increased by 27,330, 14 per cent. (from 196,700 in 1997 to 224,030 in 2001).

Patient Records

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of hard copy patient records going missing in hospital departments; and what steps he is taking to reduce it. [42327]

Ms Blears: The Department of Health does not make assessments of the loss of hard copy patient records in hospitals, but measures are in place to minimise such losses.

The Department promotes good practice in managing hospital records by issuing guidance on standards, procedures and management of hospital records. National health service organisations are required each year to provide assurances on the arrangements in place for

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ensuring the proper management of both paper and electronic patient's records. If a patient's record is mislaid, local management is accountable and should investigate the reasons why this occurred and takes all reasonable steps to prevent recurrence.

In addition, the Department is promoting better ways of managing records. The Information for Health strategy sets out plans for the development of electronic patient records and electronic health records, with substantial progress expected by 2005.

Physiotherapists

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many working time equivalent physiotherapists were employed by the Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust in each of the last five years; and what the current vacancy rates are. [42282]

Ms Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.

NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff working within the physiotherapy area of work in Brighton healthcare NHS trust as at 30 September each year—whole-time equivalents

All staff

1997 70

1998 70

1999 80

2000 80

2001 80

	All staff
1997	70
1998	70
1999	80
2000	80
2001	80

Notes:

1. The current three month vacancy rate for Brighton healthcare NHS trust is 1.3 per cent. and the number (wte) of three month vacancy rate is less than 10.

2. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents).

3. Three month vacancies rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 non-medical work force census (whole time equivalent).

4. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.

5. Percentages are rounded to the nearest decimal point.

Source:

Department of Health non-medical work force census

Department of Health vacancy survey March 2001

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Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) vacancy rates and (b) full role figures are for physiotherapy posts for NHS hospitals in Sussex. [42283]

Ms Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.

Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2001—vacancies in NHS trusts by health authority areas and trusts⁽⁷⁸⁾, qualified physiotherapists three month vacancy rates⁽⁷⁹⁾^,⁽⁸⁰⁾ numbers and staff in postWhole time equivalents

Three month vacancy rates (percentage) Three month vacancies Staff in post

England total 5.0 660 12,990

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 0.6 0 180

Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust 0.0 0 40

Hastings and Rother NHS Trust 0.0 0 50

South Downs Health NHS Trust ⁽⁸¹⁾— ⁽⁸¹⁾— ⁽⁸¹⁾—

Brighton Health Care NHS Trust 1.3 0 80

Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust 0.0 0 20

Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust ⁽⁸²⁾— ⁽⁸²⁾— ⁽⁸²⁾—

West Sussex HA 5.1 10 140

Worthing Priority Care Services NHS Trust ⁽⁸²⁾— ⁽⁸²⁾— ⁽⁸²⁾—

Sussex Weald and Downs NHS Trust 0.0 0 30

Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust 6.3 0 60

The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust 12.6 0 20

Mid Sussex NHS Trust 0.0 0 30

	Three month vacancy rates (percentage)	Three month vacancies	Staff in post
England total	5.0	660	12,990

East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA	0.6	0	180
Eastbourne Hospitals NHS Trust	0.0	0	40
Hastings and Rother NHS Trust	0.0	0	50
South Downs Health NHS Trust	⁽⁸¹⁾—	⁽⁸¹⁾—	⁽⁸¹⁾—
Brighton Health Care NHS Trust	1.3	0	80
Eastbourne and County Healthcare NHS Trust	0.0	0	20
Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust	⁽⁸²⁾—	⁽⁸²⁾—	⁽⁸²⁾—

West Sussex HA	5.1	10	140
Worthing Priority Care Services NHS Trust	⁽⁸²⁾—	⁽⁸²⁾—	⁽⁸²⁾—
Sussex Weald and Downs NHS Trust	0.0	0	30
Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust	6.3	0	60
The Royal West Sussex NHS Trust	12.6	0	20
Mid Sussex NHS Trust	0.0	0	30

⁽⁷⁸⁾ HA figures are based on trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of health care.

⁽⁷⁹⁾ Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalents)

⁽⁸⁰⁾ Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 non-medical work force census (whole time equivalent)

⁽⁸¹⁾ Indicates where staff in post and numbers of vacancies are less than five

⁽⁸²⁾ Indicates zero

Notes:

1. Percentages rounded to one decimal place

2. Staff in post figures are as at September 2000

Sources:

1. Department of Health Vacancies Survey March 2001

2. Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

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