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BCG Inoculation
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of BCG inoculation take-up is in each regional health authority. [47538]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Information about the numbers of children receiving BCG vaccinations by regional office area is contained in table 8 of the statistical bulletin "NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2000–01". A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and can also be found on the Department of Health Website www.doh.gov.uk/ public/sb0121.htm.
MRSA Superbug
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to combat cases of the MRSA superbug. [47540]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: We require all acute Trusts to collect data on MRSA blood stream infections and the early results of this new surveillance system have recently been published. These data provide a baseline against which future performance and action can be measured.
Initiatives that will contribute to controlling MRSA include:
The Commission for Health Improvement's monitoring of compliance of the national infection control standard for acute Trusts during their routine clinical governance reviews.
The development of workshops to help implement the guidelines on the prevention and control of hospital acquired infection published in January 2001.
Work is also under way on a manual for the control of healthcare associated infections and a tool kit to assist Trusts in assessing their infection control staffing needs.
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Guidelines for community infection control are being developed as part of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence programme.
A comprehensive study to describe the pattern of provision of infection control in the community is under way, plus a review of the role of CIC nurses. This review will clarify their skills, education and training requirements and identify best practice.
Action plans for healthcare acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance that build on the above initiatives will be produced later this year.
Food Standards Agency
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sick bags were sent to food establishments by the Food Standards Agency as part of their promotional campaign. [47475]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 25 February 2002, Official Report, column 1026W.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which sort of food establishments the Food Standards Agency sent sick bags as part of their promotional campaign. [47476]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Food hygiene material including sick bags were sent to restaurant and catering establishments registered on local authority premises databases. These included: restaurants, take-aways/cafés, stalls at public events, roadside eateries, recreational clubs, pubs, hotels, bed and breakfasts, catering outlets for special events and catering outlets supplying delicatessen and patisserie counters at retailers.
Performance Targets
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of whether the latest PSA target to promote independence by reducing nationally the per capita rate of growth in emergency admissions of people aged over 75 to an annual average of 2 per cent. up to 2002–03 will be met. [47287]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The public service agreement target is for a reduction in the growth of the emergency admissions rate for people aged 75, comparing performance in 2003–04 with performance in 2000–01. However, we set a specific target, as part of the planning and priorities guidance, for 2001–02 of growth not exceeding 2 per cent.
Quarter 3 estimates suggest the 2001–02 target will be met: predictions are suggesting a reduction in the per capita rate of 0.5 per cent.
Psychiatry Beds
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many old-age in-patient psychiatry beds there have been in each of the past five years. [47832]
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Jacqui Smith: Information on beds designated as "Mental illness—elderly" is given in the table.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 13,151 |
| 1999–2000 | 13,385 |
| 1998–99 | 14,279 |
| 1997–98 | 14,791 |
| 1996–97 | 15,599 |
Source:
KH03—Bed availability and occupancy.
The reduction in hospital beds for people with mental illness reflects the policy of re-providing long stay hospital accommodation with community based provision.
Liquid Cytology Units
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new liquid cytology units there have been since the publication of the NHS National Plan. [47012]
Yvette Cooper: Three new liquid based cytology (LBC) units have been installed in national health service trusts in England since the publication of the NHS Plan. The units are at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust, Norfolk and Norwich Hospitals NHS Trust and North Bristol Hospitals NHS Trust.
The installation of LBC units is part of a pilot set up in April 2001 to evaluate the effects, costs and practical implications of introducing LBC into the NHS cervical screening programme alongside human papilloma virus testing. The evaluation report is due in autumn 2002, and will inform an appraisal of LBC by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. Subject to the outcome of the evaluation and appraisal, full roll-out will follow.
Food Poisoning
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been of the Food Standards Agency promotional campaign against food poisoning. [47477]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: A budget of around £4 million was spent on all aspects of the agency's food hygiene campaign for the financial year 2001–02, including radio and television advertising. This included the extensive preparatory work needed to ensure that it was properly constructed and targeted, as well as the materials themselves.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scans
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times were, broken down by regional health authority, for an MRI scan in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [48011]
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Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: We do not collect waiting times for an MRI scan. The Government acknowledges the importance of diagnostic procedures, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and is encouraging hospitals to streamline their services so that tests are carried out, and a diagnosis made, as quickly as possible. The length of time that a patient may have to wait for any scan is dependent on their clinical condition. Emergency cases need to be seen immediately. Other cases will be carried out as quickly as possible, however this is dependent on the clinical priority of all the remaining patients waiting to be scanned. To increase the capacity of diagnostic services, funding has been made available for the provision of new and replacement scanners. By 2004, approximately 100 MRI scanners and 200 CT scanners will be provided through central purchasing programmes. In addition to this, workforce initiatives are underway that aim to improve recruitment and retention of staff.
Relocation
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to relocate executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies under the remit of his Department to Scotland. [47981]
Ms Blears [holding answer 10 April 2002]: None.
Television Licences
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the (a) number and (b) total cost of television licences paid for by his Department. [48350]
Ms Blears [holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department has purchased eight TV licenses in the last year, at a total cost of £872, in respect of premises occupied by the Department itself.
Flu Jabs
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people and what percentage of patients aged over 65 had the flu jab this winter. [47549]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Final monitoring figures at the end of the influenza campaign showed that 5.1 million people aged 65 and over received the influenza vaccine this winter, which represents 68 per cent. of those in this age group.
Nursing Homes
Mr. Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing homes were located (a) within five, (b) five to 10, (c) 10 to 15 and (d) more than 15 kilometres from settlements with under 3,000 people in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001. [46506]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally.