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NHS Plan
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total (a) cost and (b) distribution figure was of the NHS Plan-A Progress report 2000–01. [50806]
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Mr. Hutton [holding answer 18 April 2002]: The NHS Plan—A Progress Report 2000–01 was the first report of the Modernisation Board. It is a requirement of the Board's Terms of Reference that an annual report should be produced.
The total cost of producing and distributing this document was £82,480. 22,000 copies of the report have been distributed.
Matrons
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what duties matrons are expected to undertake. [53301]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 29 April 2002]: It is for employing organisations to specify the duties of matrons in job descriptions. Guidance was issued to the National Health Service in April 2001 as Health Service Circular 2001/010, 'Implementing the NHS Plan—Modern Matrons'.
Medical Precautions
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what precautions the Government plans to take in the event of (a) plague and (b) Ebola attack. [53898]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 2 May 2002]: My Department issued guidance to all health authorities and regional directors of public health on the procedures to be followed in the event of a deliberate release of plague and other biological agents, on 17 October. At the same time, guidance for medical and laboratory staff was issued by the public health laboratory service (PHLS) concerning the precautions to be adopted in the event of an outbreak of plague and other biological agents. This advice is available on the PHLS website:
http://www.phls.co.uk/advice/smallpox guidelines.pdf.
Plague can be treated with antibiotics and the Department has a substantial stockpile of appropriate antibiotics that could be deployed in the event of an outbreak of plague following a terrorist attack.
For Ebola, which is one of the viral haemorrhagic fevers. (VHF), guidance on the management and control of VHFs has already been produced by the advisory committee on dangerous pathogens. Further guidance on the action to be taken in the event of a deliberate release of a VHF has been drawn up by the PHLS and is being revised following review by the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Working Group of the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. There is no treatment for Ebola virus infection and patients are normally cared for in isolation facilities.
The Chief Medical Officer has also written to general practitioners, and participated in a symposium at the Royal College of Physicians, for the medical profession.
Correspondence
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 17 January from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central in relation to Mr. B. R., reference PO002718. [53933]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 2 May 2002]: A reply was sent on 9 May.
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Warrington PCT
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2002, Official Report, column 120W, how many applications were received for non-executive appointments to the board of Warrington PCT from each ward in Warrington; what percentage of applicants from each ward were interviewed; and what percentage of applicants from each ward were appointed. [54219]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 7 May 2002]: Information on the number candidates who applied, those interviewed and those appointed from each ward has been placed in the Library.
Medicines Control Agency
Mr. Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency for 2002–03. [55480]
Ms Blears: The high level targets for the Medicines Control Agency are included in its Annual Business Plan, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
NHS Staff
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed by the NHS in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [54665]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 8 May 2002]: The number of staff working for the national health service in England and Gloucestershire for the last five years is as follows.
An increase of 8.2 per cent. in Gloucestershire compared with an increase of 10 per cent. in England.
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| England | Gloucestershire HA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-time equivalents | Headcount | Whole-time equivalents | Headcount | |
| 1997 | 849,450 | 1,053,580 | 8,750 | 11,520 |
| 1998 | 858,520 | 1,066,340 | 8,980 | 11,670 |
| 1999 | 876,880 | 1,092,030 | 9,150 | 11,800 |
| 2000 | 896,200 | 1,112,030 | 9,500 | 12,210 |
| 2001 | 935,060 | 1,159,960 | 9,820 | 12,470 |
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. All practitioners included in the totals exclude GP retainers.
3. All practice staff included in the total includes practice nurses, direct patient care, administration and clerical and other.
4. All practitioners and GP practice staff are not directly employed by the NHS but work to contracts for the NHS.
Sources:
1. Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
2. Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
3. Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff have been dismissed in the NHS in (a) Gloucestershire and (b) England in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by (i) reasons for the dismissals and (ii) categories of employees; and if he will make a statement. [54664]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 8 May 2002]: The information requested is not collected centrally.
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many resignations, broken down by job description, there have been from NHS employment in Hull and the East Riding since 1 January 2001. [50612]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.