House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Jun 2002 (pt 30)

Chlamydia Screening

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the national chlamydia screening programme will be operational across the country; [61074]

Ms Blears: A report on the chlamydia screening pilots in Portsmouth and the Wirral will be published this summer. The pilots showed that this form of screening was acceptable to the target group and the professionals with 75 per cent. uptake among those offered screening and 95 per cent. of those diagnosed returning for treatment.

The national strategy for sexual health and HIV commits to beginning a programme of screening for chlamydia for targeted groups in 2002. The first 10 screening sites are currently being selected, and will be approved shortly. The pace of the roll-out of the programme across the country will depend on the availability of resources, trained staff and equipment, and cannot be precisely predicted at this stage.

Coronary Care

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether primary care trusts are obliged to wait for NICE guidance on drug eluting stents before allowing their use in patients. [61628]

Ms Blears: The absence of guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) does not prevent the national health service using new drugs or technologies. Standing guidance to the NHS says specifically that they should not wait for NICE guidance, but should in the interim, make a local decision about whether to fund particular interventions on the basis of the available published information.

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Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made an assessment of how the use of drug eluting stents will contribute to revascularisation targets set out in the national service framework on coronary heart disease. [61627]

Ms Blears: The Department referred drug eluting stents to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) on 20 May 2002. NICE will provide evidence-based advice on their appropriate use, and at that time an assessment can be made of how drug eluting stents will contribute to revascularisation targets set out in the national service framework on coronary heart disease.

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restenosis rate is associated with the use of bare stents in the UK. [61626]

Ms Blears: The Department does not collect data relating to the restenosis rate associated with the use of bare stents in England.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the relative cost effectiveness of the (a) coronary artery bypass graft for coronary heart disease and (b) percutaneous coronary intervention; and if he will make a statement. [61363]

Ms Blears [holding answer 17 June 2002]: The Department has made no assessment of the relative cost-effectiveness of coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In general, PCI is a less expensive procedure. It is a less invasive procedure for the patient allowing for a quicker recovery and requiring a shorter hospital stay. The decision as to which procedure is appropriate is a clinical one based on an assessment of the individual patient, and for patients who are not suitable for PCI, coronary artery bypass graft may be the only appropriate intervention.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the average number of bed days for recovery from percutaneous coronary interventions in the last year for which figures are available. [61366]

Ms Blears [holding answer 17 June 2002]: The average post-operative duration of stay for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 2000–01 was two days. This figure is based on finished consultant episodes. There will be a small number of patients who may be transferred to another consultant following the operation, which is not reflected in this average.

Residential and Nursing Care

Mr. MacDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the total income to local authorities that resulted in the last 12 months from including war widows' pensions when calculating charges for the cost of residential and nursing care under the National Assistance Regulations; and how many people paying charges under the regulations are affected. [61846]

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is not collected centrally.

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Stents

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients per million population benefited from the use of stents in (a) the UK and (b) each other EU country; and if he will make a statement. [61955]

Ms Blears: The Department does not collect data on the number of patients who received stents. In 2000–01, the number of percutaneous transluminal artery angioplasties carried out in national health service hospitals in England was 25,698. It is estimated that about 80 per cent. of these procedures would have included the use of stents.

Figures from other European Union countries are not available on a directly comparable basis. Information about operations undertaken in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of their own Administrations.

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects NICE will complete its assessment on drug eluting stents; and if he will make a statement. [61957]

Ms Blears: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is responsible for determining the detailed timetable for the appraisal topics referred to it. We have not yet been informed when its guidance on drug eluting stents will be available.

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the provision of drug eluting stents; and if he will make a statement. [61956]

Ms Blears: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has received no representations regarding the provision of drug eluting stents.

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how many patients would benefit from the use of drug eluting stents; and if he will make a statement. [61954]

Ms Blears: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use of stents in May 2000. This guidance is due for review in April 2003. The Department referred drug eluting stents to NICE on 20 May 2002.

NICE will provide evidence-based advice to the national health service in England and Wales on the clinical and cost effectiveness of drug eluting stents compared to 'bare' stents, and on their appropriate use.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost benefit analysis his Department has undertaken of bare stents compared to drug eluting stents. [61362]

Ms Blears [holding answer 17 June 2002]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on the use of stents in May 2000. This guidance is due for review in April 2003. The Department referred drug eluting stents to NICE on 20 May 2002.

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National Endometriosis Society

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to restore relief and research funding to the National Endometriosis Society; [62801]

Jacqui Smith: The National Endometriosis Society will receive £10,000 from the Department in 2002–03 as a contribution towards the cost of its core activities. This is the final year of a three-year grant. In the autumn the society will be given the opportunity to apply to have the grant renewed from April 2003.

Drug Users (Treatment and Rehabilitation)

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action the Government are taking to increase investment in drug rehabilitation services in Somerset; and if he will make a statement; [62396]

(3) if he will make a statement on waiting times from GP referral to initial consultation for users of illegal drugs in Somerset. [62397]

Ms Blears: The Government are committed to the improvement of drug rehabilitation services. In Somerset the overall budget for treatment rose from £2.383 million in 2001–02 to £2.71 million this year. Nearly £400,000 of new money is being spent on treatment this year alone.

Information on waiting times from general practitioner (GP) referrals to initial consultation is not collected centrally. I am, however, advised by Dorset and Somerset health authority that Somerset GPs generally refer patients to Somerset drugs services, which is managed by Somerset Partnership national health service and social care trust. Waiting times vary across the county but action has been taken to improve access to services, including funding this year for two nursing posts, one each side of the county, to focus particularly on improving waiting times.

There is one residential drug rehabilitation unit in Somerset. However, Somerset social services department contracts to use services in neighbouring counties as and when needed.

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of drug and addiction consultancy posts are vacant in England at the latest date for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [62401]

Mr. Hutton: The Department's "Vacancy Survey" (March 2001), lists figures for general psychiatry. There were 130 vacancies, with a 7.8 per cent. vacancy rate. This survey does not have a more specific breakdown of vacancies (for example figures for consultants with an interest in substance misuse).

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