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Multiple Sclerosis
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent discussions he has had with those pharmaceutical companies that have developed beta interferon and other disease-modifying drugs for MS, concerning the terms on which these drugs may be made available on the NHS in the future; [18079]
- (2) what recent discussions he has had with pharmaceutical companies that manufacture disease- modifying drugs for MS on their willingness to supply those drugs to the NHS at a price which reflects their efficacy, and if he will make a statement. [24980]
Ms Blears: 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.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 8 February 2002, Official Report, column 1241W.
Neuroleptic Drugs
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the inappropriate over-use of neuroleptic drugs in homes for the elderly. [26030]
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.
A number of measures have been taken to ensure that there is no inappropriate or excessive use of antipsychotic drugs for older people. In particular, implementation of the National Service Framework for Older People will ensure effective prescribing and administration of medication for older people. The new national minimum
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standards for care homes, for implementation from April 2002, include standards to protect older people from inappropriate medication.
Latex Allergy
Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to protect health service staff and patients who are allergic to latex from exposure to it; and if he will refer the issue of latex allergy to the Medical Devices Agency Committee on Safety of Devices. [26124]
Ms Blears [holding answer 11 January 2002]: 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.
The Medical Devices Agency (MDA) regularly investigates the risks posed to patients and health care workers and, along with the Department, issues relevant guidance. Latex is recognised as a sensitiser or substance hazardous to health as defined by the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH 1994) and HSC 1999/186 instructed that individuals who are sensitised to latex should stop using latex medical gloves and be provided with gloves made from an alternative material.
It would be inappropriate to refer the issue of latex allergy to the MDA's Committee on Safety of Devices at the moment, because the MDA is actively involved in drafting European guidance for manufacturers on the regulations for medical devices containing latex. The European Commission group working on this document is expected to complete this work later this year.
Lauren Wright
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans the Government have to hold a public inquiry into the death of Lauren Wright; [27238]
- (2) what measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no repetition of the events which led to the death of Lauren Wright. [27236]
Jacqui Smith: 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.
We have no plans to hold a public inquiry in this case. This does not ignore the tragedy that Lauren Wright's death represents, but we need to balance detailed investigation and inquiry with action that will ensure we minimise the possibility of such tragedies happening again.
In Lauren's case, the independent review into the actions of health staff and organisations, which is due to report in March 2002; the robust oversight by the Area Child Protection Committee of the implementation by local agencies of the action plan produced to take forward the recommendations of the serious case review; the follow-up inspection of Norfolk's children's services by
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the Social Services Inspectorate, which found substantial improvements in Norfolk's child care and child protection services; and the Social Services Inspectorate/Audit Commission Joint Review of Norfolk scheduled for March 2002, should together ensure that the lessons from this tragedy are learned and applied in practice in the future within Norfolk.
We have already established a statutory inquiry into the death of another little girl, Victoria Climbie. The Victoria Climbie inquiry, being chaired by Lord Laming, is a wide ranging inquiry that will closely examine the working of our child protection system. We anticipate that this inquiry will produce recommendations that will be relevant to child protection practice and procedure across the country, and which, as far as possible, will prevent further tragedies of this kind. We look forward to Lord Laming's report and his recommendations with interest.
Accident and Emergency Departments
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures of performance he uses to judge the quality of care in accident and emergency departments. [27716]
Ms Blears: 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.
The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) review teams follow patients' pathways of care when undertaking clinical governance reviews of national health service trusts. Accident and emergency (A&E) departments are frequently included as a key element of a pathway of care.
The review teams both interview A&E staff and observe A&E departments in order to examine how patients are cared for during their stay. Elements frequently reported on are issues about the quality of the environment, the maintenance of confidentiality, the provision of privacy which promotes dignity, the flow of care, including waiting times and how the department relates to other services.
All CHI reports highlight both notable practice and issues that require the organisation's action. All action issues are followed up utilising the trust's own action plan, which like the report is published.
In addition, the Government measure waiting times in A&E. Data on waits for admission post decision to admit are published quarterly. The NHS Plan set a new target for A&E, to reduce the maximum wait in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge to four hours by 2004. In line with this target, from August 2001, data on total time in A&E from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge have been collected. These data show that the NHS is currently on track to meet this target with 77 per cent. of A&E attenders spending four hours or less in A&E.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were required to work on Sundays in accident and emergency departments in each year between 1990 and 2000. [30938]
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Ms Blears: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Staffing of accident and emergency departments is a matter for the national health service locally.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average number of trolley bays is per thousand patients seen in accident and emergency departments in England. [36891]
Ms Blears: 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.
Information on the number of trolley bays in accident and emergency departments is not collected centrally. In the year 2000–01 there were 12,953,000 attendances at accident and emergency departments in England.
Ministerial Transport
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost of (a) ministerial cars and drivers and (b) taxis for his Department in each of the last four years. [27907]
Ms Blears: 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.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 30 January 2002, Official Report, column 406W.
The table gives a summary of costs of taxis.
| Year (April to March) | £ |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 189,730.78 |
| 1999–2000 | 220,603.24 |
| 2000–01 | 250,321.97 |
| 2001–02 | 236,944.18 |
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