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19 Dec 2002 : Column 1039W—continued
Bed Availability (Worcestershire)
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available within the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust on (a) 2 December, (b) 11 December and (c) the most recent date for which he has information; and if he will make a statement. [88010]
Mr. Lammy: The daily situation reports by trusts do not list the total number of beds available within each hospital. The following answer therefore gives the number of beds that were not available on the days in question.
On 2 December, one ward at the Worcester Royal Hospital, with five unoccupied beds, was closed to admissions because of an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting (D&V), but it reopened during the day.
On 11 December, two wards were closed at the Alexandra Hospital, with five unoccupied beds, due to an outbreak of D&V.
On 17 December, the latest available date, six beds were closed due to staffing shortages at Worcester.
The bed closures should be seen in the overall context of some 900 beds (for all purposes) in the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. The West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority is working closely with and monitoring the performance of the trust under the normal processes of winter planning and situation reporting.
Blood Donations
Mr. Havard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many years in retrospect the Government will ban recipients of blood from donating blood in the future; and when he will publish his findings on this issue. [86268]
Ms Blears: The Government's advisory committee on the microbiological safety of blood and tissues for transplantation asked the Department's economics and operational research division to assess the impact of excluding transfusion recipients from donating blood on possible secondary infections of variant CJD, assuming blood to be infective. This risk assessment is still in progress and consequently no decision has been taken into the possible exclusion of transfusion recipients giving blood.
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Body Part Imports
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend the licensing regime for the importation of human body tissue to corpses and other body parts; and if he will make a statement. [87314]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 17 December 2002]: There are currently no formal controls on the import of human tissue to the United Kingdom for teaching, education, research or other non-therapeutic purposes. The Government are considering this matter as part of their current review of the law on human tissue and organs. As an interim measure, we published a draft code of practice on the import and export of human body parts, in July. Consultation on this ended in October and we shall publish a slightly revised code shortly.
Cancer Screening
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend screening programmes to forms of common cancers other than breast and cervical. [86573]
Ms Blears: The NHS Cancer Plan stated that the government would extend and roll out new screening programmes, where it is clear that screening reduces mortality.
The National Health Service breast screening programmes is being expanded to invite all women aged 65 to 70 by 2004.
On 5 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health reaffirmed his commitment to introduce a national screening programme for colorectal cancer. The national cancer director will be working with all the relevant experts to determine the best way forward, taking account of experience from the current pilots.
We are committed to introducing a screening programme for prostate cancer if an when screening and treatment techniques are sufficiently well developed. There is no evidence from any country that screening for prostate cancer saves lives, but his is kept constantly under review by the national screening committee.
Care Costs
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per week is of (a) keeping a person in hospital and (b) keeping a person in a nursing home. [84807]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 3 December 2002]: The average cost per week in 2000–01 of keeping a person in hospital is calculated as #1,000 and of keeping that person in a nursing home is calculated as #384.
Care Homes (Insurance Cover)
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide assistance to care homes whose (a) premiums for public and employer's liability insurance cover have risen significantly and (b) cover has been withdrawn; and if he will make a statement. [88040]
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Jacqui Smith: Care home places are commissioned by local councils. The Department is aware that some providers have had difficulty in negotiating public and private employers liability insurance premiums, and has contributed evidence to a cross-Whitehall group which is looking into this issue. This has led to a review of the current employers' liabilities compulsory insurance announced in the Pre-Budget report.
Children in Care
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is reviewing public service agreements relating to the educational achievements of children in care. [84028]
Jacqui Smith: The social exclusion unit is currently reviewing the Government's public service agreement targets in consultation with the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills and other Departments with an interest. This review of current targets is part of the social exclusion unit's wider study into raising the educational attainment of young people in public care.
Children in Temporary Accommodation
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regular health checks are carried out on children living in temporary accommodation. [87186]
Jacqui Smith: Local primary care trusts are responsible for the timing, frequency and content of health checks in childhood. These will vary according to the needs of the individual child. There is, however, a recommended core programme contained in the publication XHealth for all Children", which includes the number and content of health checks for children. This programme has been developed to maximise the capability of every child to have the opportunity to realise their full potential in terms of good health, well being and development and to assist primary health care teams to determine their approach. The core programme is currently under review.
Chiropody
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received NHS chiropody services in each year from 1997 to 2002. [87678]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 17 December 2002]: The number of people who received chiropody services was as follows:
| Year | First contacts (thousands) |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 2,420 |
| 1997–98 | 2,383 |
| 1998–99 | 2,381 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,321 |
| 2000–01 | 2,247 |
| 2001–02 | 2,278 |
Source:
Department of Health annual return KT23.
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has issued guidance on chiropody services; and what plans the NICE has to issue guidance on NHS chiropody services in the future. [87679]
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Mr. Lammy [holding answer 17 December 2002]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has not issued guidance specifically on chiropody services and has no plans to issue such guidance in the near future.
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what framework governs standards of provision of chiropody services in the NHS. [87682]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 17 December 2002]: Primary care trusts are responsible for planning and securing the provision of the totality of care and services that their population needs. The Health Professions Council is responsible for setting and maintaining standards of professional training, performance and conduct of the 12 health care professions that it regulates, including chiropody. National service frameworks may include standards relevant to the provision of chiropody services.
Community Initiatives
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many community five-a-day initiatives have been established since the five pilot sites reported. [84014]
Ms Blears: The five-a-day local community initiatives aim to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables by improving access and availability. Following the five pilot initiatives, there will be 66 new five-a-day local community initiatives, based in the most deprived areas of England, supported by the new opportunities fund. Grants for the first four initiatives have been awarded and grants for the other initiatives are currently under consideration. The majority of these programmes should be starting up from spring 2003.
In addition, initiatives to increase fruit and vegetable consumption may be funded through health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and through general funding allocations to primary care trusts.
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