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15 Oct 2002 : Column 803W—continued
Correspondence
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to answer the correspondence from the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich, referred to him by the Prime Minister, concerning Dr. Chai Patel and his membership of advisory committees; and if he will list those committees. [74342]
Mr. Milburn: I replied on 7 October 2002.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letter of 10 January from the hon. Member for New Forest West. [54356]
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Ms Blears [holding answer 7 May 2002]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 1 July 2002.
Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Broxbourne of 19 April, 16 May, 14 June and 11 July relating to correspondence from Mr. Hugh McKinney of Cert. [70435]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 16 July 2002]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 30 July 2002.
Epilepsy
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will set a national target for reduction of epilepsy deaths; [74052]
- (2) whether the Home Office is being consulted on the Action Plan to address the findings in the National Audit of Epilepsy-Related Death on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations; [74050]
(3) what plans he has to address the information and support needs for bereaved families affected by SUDEP and other epilepsy deaths; [74048]
(4) what plans he has to address the findings in the epilepsy deaths report on the adequacy of post-mortem investigations. [74049]
Jacqui Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the member for Falmouth and Camborne (Ms Atherton) on Thursday 19 September 2002, Official Report, col. 344W.
We are working with the Royal College of Pathologists to promote their guidelines on autopsy practice, to improve post mortem investigations. The guidelines cover neuropathological cases, including deaths in epilepsy. Additionally we propose to consider ways of improving practice in new death certification and investigation procedures in the light of the Home Office review of coroners system which is due to report in April 2003.
GPs
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners (a) took early retirement and (b) left for other reasons from primary care practice in Sunderland in each year since 1998. [74259]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table:
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early retirement | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Left for other reasons | 13 | 7 | 18 | 15 | 8 |
Notes:
Early retirement is defined as under 60 years
* 2002 to end of August
Source:
Northumberland and Tyne & Wear Strategic Health Authority
Mr. Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) female and (b) male GPs took up their first post in the NHS since 1998; what available number of GP training places there were in each year since 1998; what special measures were taken locally to
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recruit GPs since 1998; broken down by each health authority/PCT in the Northern and Yorkshire areas; and if he will make a statement. [74256]
Mr. Hutton: Data are not collected in the format requested.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for general practitioners there were in the Taunton constituency in each year since 1996; and if he will make a statement. [74089]
Ms Blears: The Department first carried out a survey into general practitioner (GP) recruitment, retention and vacancies in 2000. The information is collated on a health authority basis.
In the 2000 survey Somerset Health Authority reported that it had four GP vacancies outstanding at some time in the 12 month period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000. In the 2001 survey there were 28 general practitioner (GP) vacancies at some time in the 12 months from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001.
Results from the 2002 survey should be available later in the year.
Bed Blocking
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds have been blocked in Somerset hospitals in each month in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002. [74112]
Ms Blears: Information on delayed transfers of care has been collected at health authority level and has been placed in the Library. Figures are available for the four Quarters of calendar year 2001 and the first Quarter of 2002.
Nursing
Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing posts there are at the (a) Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust and (b) South Somerset NHS Trust which have been vacant for three months or more. [74111]
Ms Blears: The three month vacancy rate1,2 for qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in Taunton & Somerset Hospital National Health Service Trust is 0.3 per cent. This is based on less than five vacancies3 and staff in post of 980 whole time equivalents and 1,260 headcount.
There is no data available for South Somerset Primary Care Trust. This was a new primary care trust in April 2002 after the three month vacancy survey was undertaken.
- Source: Department of Health Vacancy Survey 2002
- Department of Health Non medical workforce census September 2001
- Notes:
- 1. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2002 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which have lasted for three months or more (whole time equivalent)
- 2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from this survey.
- 3. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest ten.
- 4. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
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- 5. Due to rounding calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rate.
- 6. Staff in post data is from the non-medical workforce census September 2001.
- 7. Figures exclude learners.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council concerning their processing of registration applications from non-EU qualified nurses with special reference to the efficient process of applications for registration; and if he will make a statement. [74081]
Mr. Hutton: I met with Mr. Jonathan Asbridge, President of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), in July to receive a progress report from him regarding the implementation of the new Nursing and Midwifery Order. The well-publicised problems of the NMC regarding delays in the processing of applications for registrations formed part of those discussions and I am, through my officials, continuing to monitor the progress of the NMC in addressing these issues.
I support the continuing actions taken by the President to resolve the immediate issues and his commitment to undertake a comprehensive review of the systems and processes that the organisation inherited from its predecessor, the United Kingdom central council for nurses, midwives and health visitors (UKCC).
I am advised that the NMC has cleared the backlogs in the UK applications and is continuing to target resources at registration applications from those qualified overseas, from both within and outside the European Union.
Anaphylactic Attacks
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice his Department has given to pharmacies to have epipens available to treat anaphylactic attacks; [73900]
- (2) what requirements there are for pharmacies to have epipens available to treat anaphylactic attacks. [73899]
Mr. Lammy: The Department has not given any advice to pharmacies that requires them to have eipipens available to treat anaphylactic shock. As epipens are prescribable items we would expect pharmacies to stock them as a matter of course.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in their code of ethics refers to emergencies and states ''Pharmacists must assist persons in need of emergency first aid or medical treatment whether by administering first aid within their competence or by summoning assistance and or the emergency services''.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has given to (a) nursery and (b) primary schools about special measures for children susceptible to (i) anaphylactic shocks and (ii) other allergies. [73897]
Mr. Lammy: In 1996 the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment issued joint guidance on Supporting pupils with medical needs in
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schools. The guidance, which was sent to health authorities and local education authorities, covers treatment and the development of healthcare plans for pupils suffering from potentially life threatening medical conditions, including anaphylaxis. Although aimed primarily at schools the guidance was also recommended to special schools, nursery schools and further education colleges.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the availability in (a) schools, (b) chemists, (c) restaurants and (d) doctor's surgeries of epipens to treat anaphylactic shocks. [73898]
Mr. Lammy: In 1996 the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Employment issued joint guidance on Supporting pupils with medical needs in schools. The guidance, which was sent to health authorities and local education authorities, covers treatment and the development of healthcare plans for pupils suffering from potentially life threatening medical conditions, including anaphylaxis. Although aimed primarily at schools the guidance was also recommended to special schools, nursery schools and further education colleges.
The Department has not assessed pharmacies regarding the availability of epipens. As epipens are prescribable items we would expect pharmacies to stock them as a matter of course. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in their code of ethics refers to emergencies and states ''Pharmacists must assist persons in need of emergency first aid or medical treatment whether by administering first aid within their competence or by summoning assistance and or the emergency services''.
There has been no assessment of the availability of epipens in restaurants and doctors' surgeries.
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