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Caesarean Sections

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of births were by caesarean section in each health authority in England in each of the past five years. [10016]

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Yvette Cooper: I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer her to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

The statistics are available as national totals, by regions and national health service trusts but not by health authority.

The table shows national NHS hospital deliveries and percentage of caesarean section 1994–95 to 1999–2000.

NHS hospital deliveries

Total number of deliveries ( = 100%)Percentage of deliveries by caesarean section
1994–95604,30015.5
1995–96592,69916.3
1996–97594,50017.0
1997–98585,00018.2
1998–99(24)19.4
1999–2000(24)20.4

(24) provisional


The last NHS maternity statistics including caesarean section rates was published on the 12 June 2001 showing data by trust. A copy was placed in the Library. It can also be found in Table 36 from the DH website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0114.htm.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets he has for the proportion of babies born by caesarean section. [12606]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 5 November 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

The Department currently does not have any targets for the proportion of babies born by caesarean section. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) are producing guidelines on caesarean section. It is also an area we would expect the forthcoming Children's National Service Framework to address.

Casualty Waiting Times

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time at (a) Chorley and South Ribble NHS hospital casualty department and (b) Preston NHS Acute hospital casualty department in the last six months. [11546]

Jacqui Smith: I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

This information is not collected centrally. However, in the week ending 24 February, 84 per cent. of patients attending at Chorley and 77 per cent. of patients at Preston departed from the accident and emergency departments in under four hours.

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NHS Funding

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the annual real terms increase in NHS funding for each of the years (a) 1971–72, (b) 1972–73, (c) 1973–74, (d) 1974–75, (e) 1975–76, (f) 1976–77, (g) 1998–99, (h) 1999–2000, (i) 2000–01, (j) 2001–02, (k) 2002–03 and (l) 2003–04. [10747]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 31 October 2001]: I apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

The information requested is set out in the tables.

NHS expenditure, 1972–72 to 1977–78
Outturn

Net NHS expenditure (£ billion)Real terms increase (Percentage)
1971–722.0
1972–732.35.5
1973–742.52.6
1974–753.411.1
1975–764.55.6
1976–775.10.4

NHS expenditure 1997–98 to 2003–04

Net NHS expenditure (£ billion)Real terms increase (Percentage)
1997–98(25)35.0
1998–99(25)36.92.7
1999–2000(25)40.26.4
2000–01(26)44.68.9
2001–02(27)48.86.9
2002–03(27)53.56.8
2003–04(27)57.03.9

(25) Outturn

(26) Estimated outturn

(27) Plan


Ciprofloxacin

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) British pharmaceutical companies and (b) his United States counterparts, regarding the patenting of Ciprofloxacin penicillin supplies; and if he will make a statement. [11161]

Yvette Cooper [holding answer 1 November 2001]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer her to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

I have not had discussions with pharmaceutical companies concerning the patent of Ciprofloxacin.

My officials have had general discussions with the manufacturer of Ciprofloxacin and several other manufacturers of key medical supplies as part of the medical countermeasures programme against the deliberate release of a biological agent.

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My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently signed an agreement with his United States counterpart to explore opportunities for joint working across a range of issues concerning bio-terrorism.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to ensure supplies of the penicillin Ciprofloxacin are available in the United Kingdom. [11162]

Yvette Cooper: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer her to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

A substantial stockpile of Ciprofloxacin and other appropriate antibiotics has been secured, and stocks are being further augmented.

Furthermore, appropriate emergency supplies of Ciprofloxacin and other essential antibiotics have been strategically placed across the UK to facilitate rapid deployment in an emergency.

Nutrition

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual cost of under-nutrition to the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [12914]

Yvette Cooper: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer him to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

The number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) of in-patient care in national health service hospitals in England in 2000–01 for malnutrition was 306. These figures do not represent the number of patients as a person may have more than one FCE in the year.

This information is extracted from the Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) system, which contains details of patients admitted to and treated in NHS hospitals in England. HES does not hold data on cost of treatment for malnutrition.

Figures for 2000–01 have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls (ie they are ungrossed).

Herceptin

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the drug Herceptin in the treatment of breast cancer; and when the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is likely to make a decision on the licensing of Herceptin. [13380]

Ms Blears: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer her to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.

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The Secretary of State and the National Assembly for Wales have asked the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) to appraise Herceptin for breast cancer, and to provide guidance on its use for the national health service in England and Wales.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is expected to give guidance on Herceptin by the end of this month, providing there are no appeals.

NICE is not responsible for the licensing of medicines. Herceptin is a European licensed product whose licence was granted by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). Medicines Control Agency licensing records the licence as granted on 28 August 2001.


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