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25 Nov 2002 : Column 127W—continued
Wasted Costs
Mr. Soames: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions in the last five years a judge has made a wasted costs order. [82471]
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Yvette Cooper: The Department does not collect information on the making of wasted costs orders centrally. To ask all the courts in England and Wales to provide the information to answer the Question would be at a disproportionate cost.
HEALTH
Mental Health (Murders)
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many murders have been committed by persons with mental disorders in the community but not taking their medicine in the periods (a) 1990 to 1993, (b) 1993 to 1997, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 2000 to 2002. [82806]
Jacqui Smith: The National Confidential Inquiry in to Suicides and Homicides by People with a Mental Illness started data gathering in 1996, and have data which are fully analysed and published available to the end of 1999.
The data show that between 1 April 1996 and 31 March 1999 there were a total of 145 homicides committed by people with a mental illness who had been in contact with mental health services (i.e. secondary care) in England and Wales in the 12 months prior to the homicide offence. Of these 32, or 26 per cent., were reported to be non-compliant with medication in the month before the event.
Acute Stroke Beds (North Cheshire)
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people who had suffered a stroke were admitted to acute stroke beds in each of the hospitals constituting the North Cheshire Hospitals Trust in each of the past five years. [82706]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not available centrally in the form requested. However, the table shows the latest available published data 1 for finished consultant episodes for stroke at Halton General Hospital and Warrington Hospital national health service Trusts for each of the five years 1996–97 to 2000–01.
| Trust | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halton general hospital NHS Trust | 93 | 90 | 112 | 129 | 68 |
| Warrington hospital NHS Trust | 259 | 224 | 264 | 242 | 240 |
(21) Hospital Episodes Statistics: Finished Consultant Episodes for XStroke" (ICD10 code 160–169)
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute stroke beds are available in each hospital in the North Cheshire Hospitals Trust; and how many will be available in each hospital under the trust's plan A Vision for Future Services. [82707]
Jacqui Smith: . There are currently 24 acute stroke beds at Warrington Hospital. At Halton Hospital, stroke patients are currently admitted to general acute beds as there are no beds dedicated to stroke care. Under the plan outlined in the discussion document, XVision for Future Services," the 24 acute stroke beds at Warrington Hopital would be retained and six new acute stroke assessment beds established at Halton Hospital.
Age-related Macular Degeneration
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have suffered irreversible vision loss as a result of wet age-related macular degeneration in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [82708]
Mr. Lammy: A study sponsored by the Macular Disease Society in 2001 estimated that there were 182,000 people with age-related macular degeneration
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with a best eye visual acuity below that judged appropriate for certification as blind or partially sighted. Around 10 to 15 per cent. of those will have the 'wet' type of the condition; it is not possible to say how many of which have benefited from treatment.
Antipsychotic Medicines
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to maximise compliance and minimise compulsion in relation to the use of antipsychotic medicines for severe mental illness. [83306]
Jacqui Smith: This Government see the development of robust community-based mental health provision as the key to ensuring that people adhere to their care plans helping them maintain their care and treatment.
The NHS Plan proposed to increase and develop the number of community-based teams, such as crisis resolution teams, also called home treatment teams, assertive outreach teams, also known as assertive community treatment teams, early intervention teams and community mental health teams. These teams will support and encourage patients to adhere to their care plans, minimising the need for compulsory treatment.
Autism
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department gives to adults with autism. [82712]
Jacqui Smith: Adults with autism are benefiting from funding of over £200,000 which the Department made through the Section 64 Scheme of Grants to Voluntary Organisations between 1998–99 and 2001–02. We are currently devoting a further £154,000 over three years to the National Autistic Society project XIndependence and Autism: Good Practice for Service Providers". This will support the development of new services to enable adults with autism or Asperger's Syndrome to live independently.
The XValuing People" White Paper directly covers every adult with autism who also has a learning disability. Implementation guidance, issued in August last year, makes clear that adults with Asperger's Syndrome or higher functioning autism are not precluded from using learning disability services, where appropriate, and may require an assessment of their social functioning and communication skills in order to establish their level of need. By bringing together a wide range of local statutory agencies, XValuing People" gives us the scope to improve opportunities and services for people across the autistic spectrum.
People with autism will also gain, along with others, from the investment we are making to improve standards in health and social care services. In particular they will benefit from the NHS Plan, the mental health national service framework, which covers the mental health needs of adults with autism, and fair access to care services.
Beta Interferon
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the criteria are for the prescription of beta interferon to multiple sclerosis sufferers; and how patients obtain funding. [82018]
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Mr. Lammy [holding answer 20 November 2002]: All patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and those with secondary progressive MS, in which relapses are the dominant feature, are eligible under the Xrisk-sharing scheme" for treatment with a disease modifying drug on the national health service if they meet the criteria set out by the Association of British Neurologists.
Patients with relapsing-remitting MS should:
- be able to walk independently (beta interferons) or at least 100 metres without
assistance (glatiramer acetate);
have had at least two clinically significant relapses in the last two years; and
be aged 18 or over.
- be able to walk at least 10 metres with or without assistance;
have had at least two disabling relapses in the last two years;
have had minimal increase in disability due to gradual progression over the last two years; and
be aged 18 or over.
Cane Hill
Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he is in negotiations with a third party over the future of Cane Hill, Coulsdon; and if he will make a statement. [80786]
Mr. Lammy: The Cane Hill site at Coulsdon is included in the one-off-sale. A preferred party has been selected for the one-off sale portfolio, which includes the Cane Hill site.
It is intended to conclude this one-off sale of the Secretary of State's retained estate as soon as possible. With a number of sites included within the portfolio, there is a need for a substantial and detailed negotiation before contracts can be exchanged.
Car Parking
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many car parking spaces are available to (a) employees of his Department and (b) visitors to his Department within the proposed Central London Road User Charging Zone. [81860]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 19 November 2002]: There are 150 parking spaces within the congestion charging zone, available to both employees of this Department and visitors. Spaces are not specifically allocated to staff and visitors. This response does not cover parking on national health service property.
Cataract Surgery
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in West Sussex are waiting for cataract surgery, broken down by hospital trust. [83322]
Ms Blears: The information requested is shown in the table.
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| Trust | Total waiting list | Less than 3 months | 3 to 6 months | 6 to 9 months | 9 to 12 months | 12 to 15 months | Over 15 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worthing & Southlands | 1,740 | 529 | 476 | 366 | 240 | 129 | 0 |
| Surrey & Sussex Healthcare | 1,110 | 592 | 424 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Brighton & Sussex University | 1,584 | 693 | 517 | 308 | 56 | 10 | 0 |
| Royal West Sussex | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Notes:
1. Figures as at end of September 2002.
2. Information is only available for the wider ophalmology specialty.
3. Information is provided for those trusts in or providing services for West Sussex residents.
4. No figures are held for opthalmology at the Royal West Sussex NHS Trust.
Source:
DH Return KH07
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