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5 Nov 2002 : Column 270W—continued
Re-offending
Mr. Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to implement the recommendations relevant to his Department in the Social Exclusion Unit report, XReducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners". [76809]
Mr. Lammy: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, on 24 October 2002, Official Report, column 494W.
5 Nov 2002 : Column 271W
Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service
Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are on the waiting list for counselling at Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service; and how long they are expected to wait for an appointment. [77314]
Ms Blears: The way in which waiting lists are measured at this service does not allow us to provide a number for those specifically requiring counselling. It is estimated that there are approximately 110 people on the waiting list at the Salisbury Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service (SADAS) for structured counselling and/or other treatment requirements.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| Highest priority cases | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Treatment for under 25-year-olds | Up to 8 weeks |
| Arrest referral | Up to 12 weeks |
| Low risk | Up to 52 weeks |
Note:
It should be noted that the figures above measure the time from referral to treatment, and not from the first appointment, which may have occurred at an earlier date.
Seroxat
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of labelling and associated information material for the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, with regard to (a) side effects and (b) difficulty of withdrawal; [76226]
- (2) what assessment his Department has made of the side effects of the anti-depressant drug Seroxat, including difficulty of withdrawal. [76227]
Ms Blears: Seroxat (paroxetine) is a member of a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Before a product is granted a licence for use in the UK, it must meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy. After licensing, the safety of all medicines, including SSRIs, is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), and any new evidence that emerges is carefully reviewed.
The MCA/CSM carried out a major review of all side effects associated with SSRIs, which was completed in 2000 and resulted in product information for all SSRIs, including Seroxat, being updated and harmonised to reflect the common safety profiles of these medicines. An article in XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 2000 informed presenters about this review and reminded them about the risk of withdrawal reactions.
Withdrawal reactions are an important and well-recognised side effect of Seroxat and also occur with the other SSRIs. The MCA/CSM warned prescribers about the possibility of withdrawal reactions associated with Seroxat via an article in the Bulletin, XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 1993. The CSM re-reviewed the issue of withdrawal reactions and possible dependence with Seroxat and the other SSRIs in 1998–99. From a detailed review of all available data,
5 Nov 2002 : Column 272W
the CSM concluded that all SSRIs may be associated with withdrawal reactions on stopping, but that on current evidence, they are not associated with dependence. As a result of this review, product information for all SSRIs was updated in relation to withdrawal reactions. This issue was also reviewed at a European level by the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP), which reached similar conclusions.
The product information for Seroxat, which includes the summary of product characteristics (SPC) for prescribers and the patient information leaflet (PIL), contains full details of side effects and warnings about withdrawal reactions. Doctors are advised to consider gradual tapering of dose when Seroxat is discontinued rather than abruptly stopping to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the drug Seroxat. [76741]
Ms Blears: Seroxat (paroxetine) is a member of a group of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Before a product is granted a licence for use in the UK, it must meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy. After licensing, the safety of all medicines, including SSRIs, is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM); any new evidence that emerges is carefully reviewed.
The MCA/CSM carried out a major review of all side effects associated with SSRIs, which was completed in 2000 and resulted in product information for all SSRIs, including Seroxat, being updated and harmonised to reflect the common safety profiles of these medicines. An article in XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 2000 informed prescribers about this review and reminded them about the risk of withdrawal reactions.
Withdrawal reactions are an important and well-recognised side effect of Seroxat and also occur with the other SSRIs. The MCA/CSM warned prescribers about the possibility of withdrawal reactions associated with Seroxat via an article in the Bulletin, XCurrent Problems in Pharmacovigilance" in 1993. The CSM re-reviewed the issue of withdrawal reactions and possible dependence with Seroxat and the other SSRIs in 1998–99. From a detailed review of all available data, the CSM concluded that all SSRIs may be associated with withdrawal reactions on stopping, but on current evidence, they are not associated with dependence. As a result of this review, product information for all SSRIs was updated in relation to withdrawal reactions. This issue was also reviewed at a European level by the Committee on Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP), which reached similar conclusions.
The product information for Seroxat, which includes the summary of product characteristics (SPC) for prescribes and the patient information leaflet (PIL), contains full details of side effects and warnings about withdrawal reactions. Doctors are advised to consider gradual tapering of dose when Seroxat is discontinued, rather than abruptly stopping, to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
5 Nov 2002 : Column 273W
Smoking Rates (Children)
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the smoking rates among children in each year since 1990 in (a) England and (b) each NHS region. [75639]
Ms Blears: Information on smoking among young people aged 11 to 15 years is obtained from a series of surveys of school children. Until 1998, these surveys were carried out every two years; since then they have been annual. The available information is shown in the tables.
| Regular smokers(32) (percentages) | Base number | |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10 | 3,121 |
| 1992 | 10 | 3,295 |
| 1994 | 12 | 3,045 |
| 1996 | 13 | 2,854 |
| 1998 | 11 | 4,723 |
| 1999 | 9 | 9,333 |
| 2000 | 10 | 7,061 |
| 2001 | 10 | 9,271 |
(32) Regular smokers are defined as those who smoke at least one cigarette a week, on average.
Sources:
1. ONS: Smoking, drinking and drug use among young teenagers in 1999.
2. NCSR: Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2000. Available on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/englandsmoking.pdf
3. NCSR: Drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2001: Preliminary Results (DH Statistical Press Notice). Available on the internet at http:/www.doh.gov.uk/public/statspntables.htm
| Percentages | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Region | 1999 | 2000 | Base numbers (for 2000) |
| North East | 9 | 8 | 428 |
| North West/Merseyside | 10 | 11 | 999 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 10 | 9 | 583 |
| East Midlands | 8 | 11 | 687 |
| West Midlands | 9 | 11 | 931 |
| Eastern | 10 | 12 | 820 |
| London | 9 | 9 | 571 |
| South East | 8 | 11 | 1,325 |
| South West | 9 | 9 | 717 |
| England | 9 | 10 | 7,061 |
Notes:
1. The base in 1999 (England) was 9,333.
2. Data not available by NHS region.
3. Data not available by NHS region or Government Office region prior to 1999.
4. Only preliminary results have been published from the 2001 survey: the main report will be published in late 2002.
Sources:
1. ONS: Smoking, drinking and drug use among teenagers in 1999.
2. NCSR: Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in 2000.Available on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/englandsmoking.pdf
5 Nov 2002 : Column 274W
Staffing Levels (Portsmouth Hospitals)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on staffing levels at (a) Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, (b) St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth and (C) St. James Hospital, Portsmouth. [76506]
Ms Blears: This information is collected centrally at trust level and not by individual hospital site. Information on vacancy rates has been collected in the national health service vacancy survey since 1999. Information, taken from the surveys for 1999 to 2002, has been placed in the Library.
We recognise that the south-east has suffered problems in recruiting and retaining staff. Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and the local health community continue to work to ensure that vacant posts are filled as soon as possible.
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