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Performance Targets
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what trend data are available to measure progress against the PSA target for the reduction in the death rate from heart disease and stroke and related illnesses among people aged under 75 years. [47302]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Data to monitor the Public Service Agreement target to reduce the death rate from heart disease and stroke and related illnesses (all circulatory diseases) among people aged under 75 years are obtained from mortality data published by the Office for National Statistics. Data are for England.
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This PSA target is the target published in 2000 in the NHS Plan and previously in 1999 in the White Paper 'Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation' for a 40 per cent. reduction by 2010 against a baseline of the average age standardised mortality rate for the three years 1995–97.
The trend data are as follows:
| Period | |
|---|---|
| 1995–97 | 139.60 |
| 1996–98 | 133.78 |
| 1997–99 | 127.00 |
| 1998–2000 | 120.53 |
Waiting Times
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting times for chemotherapy and radiotherapy are in (a) Lincolnshire and (b) other counties in England; and what steps are being taken to improve these waiting times. [40463]
Yvette Cooper: The NHS Cancer Plan set out maximum waiting time targets for first definitive cancer treatment which will come into effect over the next few years. From December 2001 there is a one-month maximum wait from diagnosis to first treatment for breast cancer and a one-month wait from urgent general practitioner referral to first treatment for childrens testicular cancer and acute leukaemia. By 2005 there will be a maximum one-month wait from diagnosis to first treatment for all cancers. Data to monitor the December 2001 target are being collected and will be published in due course. Data on waiting times for treatment of other cancers will be collected as the targets are introduced.
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Primary Care Trusts
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers PCTs have to commission services from outside the NHS. [50804]
Mr. Hutton: Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) have a legal duty and freedom to secure the provision of locally relevant, high quality services for the populations they serve. This may be from the public (including local authorities) or independent sector. Commissioning decisions must be made on the basis of health care needs of the local community and should take into account of both clinical and cost effectiveness. PCTs may also legally secure the provision of services from countries in the European Economic Area for their patients. I also refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 8 November 2001, Official Report, column 367W.
Acute Hospital Trusts
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of funding for acute hospital trusts will be (a) channelled through PCTs and (b) directly provided by his Department. [50795]
Mr. Hutton: Trusts receive the bulk of their funding via service agreements with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
PCTs will receive 100 per cent. of unified allocations which covers hospital and community health services, general practice prescribing, general practice infrastructure, in order to commission services for their populations.
Trusts also receive revenue funding from the Department for medical and non-medical staff and nurse education services and for research and development.
In addition trusts can charge staff, visitors or patients for services provided, such as catering or provision of private patient facilities.