House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 16 Jan 2003 (pt 29)

16 Jan 2003 : Column 803W—continued

Hospital Performance Ratings

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what weighting is given to each of the criteria in performance ratings for hospitals, with particular reference to (a) clinical excellence and (b) good administration. [82993]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 2 December 2002]: The national health service published in July 2002 a XClinical Focus" containing nine indicators reflecting the standard of clinical care provided by NHS hospital trusts. Success against many of the targets and indicators in the ratings would be necessarily underpinned by high quality administrative and managerial work.

Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area were waiting for in-patient treatment on the latest available date. [91207]

Mr. Lammy: There were 9,468 patients waiting for in-patient treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust at the end of November 2002.
Source:
KH07 return

NHS Direct

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much medical training is received by those manning the telephones of NHS Direct before they commence work. [86065]

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Mr. Lammy [holding answer 10 December 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 1053W.

NHS Prescriptions

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adjust the level of income which allows those on incapacity benefit to receive free NHS prescriptions to compensate for the recent increase in incapacity benefit. [90284]

Mr. Lammy: Calculation of entitlement to help with health costs under the national health service low income scheme is based on income support arrangements. Claims are assessed by a comparison of requirements and resources. Any increase in either will be reflected in the calculation.

Overseas Medical Staff (Recruitment)

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from foreign governments about recruitment for the NHS of (a) nurses and (b) doctors in their countries. [84593]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 2 December 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 858W.

Since then, no further governments have made representations to the Department concerning the recruitment of doctors and nurses in their countries to the national health service.

We continue to discuss work programmes with New Zealand, Ghana, South Africa, the Caribbean and Poland, which will aid the retention of their health care professionals.

In addition, we have had a further approach from the Italian Government to discuss the possibility of recruiting doctors from their country.

Public-Private Partnerships

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental minutes issued by his Department were outstanding on 30 November, that referred to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was. [89420]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 13 January 2003]: There are no departmental minutes outstanding referring to public private partnerships arising from Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 December, Ref 83328, which health authorities have levels of tuberculosis higher than the national average. [86803]

Ms Blears [holding answer 10 December 2002]: Information reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service notification of infectious disease system 2001, show that the following health authorities have levels of tuberculosis higher than the national average.

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Newcastle and North Tyneside, Liverpool, Bury and Rochdale, Wigan and Bolton, Leeds, Berkshire, East Lancashire, Sheffield, West Pennine, Bexley/Bromley/Greenwich, Merton/Sutton/Wandsworth, Bedfordshire, Walsall, Calderdale and Kirklees, Croydon, Leicestershire, Bradford, Manchester, Kensington/Chelsea/Westminster, Coventry, Birmingham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, Hillingdon, Barnet/Enfield/Harringey, Lambeth/Southwark/Lewisham, Ealing/Hammersmith/Hounslow, Camden and Islington, Brent and Harrow, East London and City.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to provide support for (a) those with a traumatic brain injury, (b) their families and (c) carers in North Staffordshire; [90241]

(3) what steps he is taking to improve care for those who suffer from traumatic head injuries in North Staffordshire. [90243]

Mr. Lammy: Local commissioners are responsible for providing appropriate healthcare for their local communities, including the provision of brain injury services.

The neuropsychiatry rehabilitation unit at the Haywood Hospital, part of North Staffordshire Hospital National Health Service Trust, provides care for people with some form of brain trauma, requiring supervision, assessment, treatment or rehabilitation. The unit also provides help with emotional or behavioural difficulties relating to brain trauma and has an associated community service.

The neuropsychiatry unit at the Harplands Hospital caters for people with acute neuro-psychiatric problems following brain injury. Users of that facility are likely to require closer supervision or observation initially and may be detained under the Mental Health Act.

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A West Midlands regional group made up of service commissioners, including senior clinicians and managers, has been established to look at ways of improving the provision of neurosurgery across the West Midlands, including the North Staffordshire area.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Departmental Expenditure (Newsprint)

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total expenditure of the Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002. [90521]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The total expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2001–02 was #72,700.

Departmental Staff

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the distribution of the Lord Chancellor's Department's whole-time equivalent staff was, including the staff in agencies and other bodies reporting to him, in each Government office region and nation of the UK (a) in 1996 and (b) at the most recent available period. [90473]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 609W.

External Consultants

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002. [90502]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department also replies on behalf of its Associated Offices and the Court Service.

The Department does not collect this information on a calendar year basis.

However, I can confirm that the Department's net expenditure with external consultants in the financial year dated 2001–02 was #6.5 million.