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22 Jan 2003 : Column 384W—continued
Winter Fuel Payment
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his projections are of (a) the cash level and (b) the level at 2001–02 prices of the winter fuel allowance in (i) 2007–08, (ii) 2011–12 and (iii) 2021–22. [90125]
Mr. McCartney: The winter fuel payment was introduced in 1997–78 at £20 for each eligible household and £50 for those on income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance. It was increased to £100 for winter 1999–2000 and to the current rate of £200 for each eligible household in winter 2000–01.
This amount will continue to be paid for the rest of this Parliament, but we will keep the rate under review.
Workplace Health and Safety
Mr. Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of
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11 December, Official Report, column 379W, on workplace health and safety, what the cost was to the Exchequer of work-place accidents and illnesses for the most recent year for which figures are available. [90017]
Mr. Nicholas Brown: The most recent year for which figures are available is 1995–96. I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave him on 11 December 2002 , Official Report, volume 396, column 379W.
HEALTH
Brachytherapy Treatment
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if it is his policy to support the introduction of brachytherapy treatment facilities by hospital trusts; [91274]
- (2) what his policy is to eliminate the differential availability of brachytherapy for prostate cancer patients in different parts of the country; [91275]
(3) if he will make a statement on the efficiency of brachytherapy as a treatment for certain prostate cancers; and if he will list those primary care trusts which are known to his Department (a) to fund and (b) to refuse to fund brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer; [91277]
(4) what guidance he has issued to PCTs on the desirability of (a) their determining which prostate cancer sufferers should be funded for brachytherapy treatment and (b) their allocating cancer treatment funds en bloc to hospital trusts for them to determine which patients should receive funding for brachytherapy. [91278]
Ms Blears [holding answers 21 January 2003]: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently published guidance on the organisation and delivery of services for people with urological cancers, including prostate cancer. The guidance states that the option of brachytherapy should be discussed with men with early prostate cancer.
However, the NICE guidance also acknowledges that the place of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer is uncertain and notes the importance of research to evaluate the effectiveness of brachytherapy for prostate cancer. The guidance refers to a randomised intergroup trial comparing brachytherapy with radical surgery that is being organised by the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group and strongly encourages United Kingdom participation in this study. As a result, the Department is making £900,000 available through the National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) to enable national health service patients to enter this trial. The National Cancer Research Institute Prostate Cancer Clinical Studies Group and the NCRN are working closely together to take this trial forward in the NHS.
No guidance has been issued to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the allocation of funding for brachytherapy treatment. We are devolving power from the centre to enable PCTs to use the extra resources for the NHS to
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deliver on both national and local priorities for their communities, accounting publicly for how they have used them.
It is not possible to list which PCTs fund brachytherapy, as this information is not collected centrally. Decisions on this treatment are a matter for the clinician and funding authority concerned and should be made in the light of all the available evidence.
As more evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of brachytherapy becomes available, the Department will consider whether this treatment is a suitable topic for referral to NICE as a technology appraisal.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the refusal of the New Forest Primary Care Trust to offer brachytherapy treatment for prostate cancer. [91276]
Ms Blears [holding answer 21 January 2003]: The decision on whether or not to commission brachytherapy for local patients is currently a matter for individual primary care trusts (PCTs). Brachytheraphy is a comparatively new therapy, for which there is currently a limited evidence base which many clinicians regard as inconclusive.
Local PCTs recognise the need to consider very carefully whether to provide a treatment for which the National Institute for Clinical Excellence has asserted that more research on effectiveness is needed.
In view of this, and the understandable desire of patients for brachytherapy, concerted work is currently underway through the central south coast cancer network to review this treatment and agree a way forward for local health services. This process of review is currently underway and is expected to conclude before the end of the financial year.
Cancer Funds
Dr. Murrison : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what items of expenditure he has included in his tracking exercise for earmarked cancer funds; [91940]
- (2) when he will publish the results of his investigation into the destination of money earmarked for cancer in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [91939]
Ms Blears: We have asked strategic health authorities to identify total additional investment in cancer services, with a sub total for cancer drugs and supporting information on new service developments.
Further details are available at http://www.doh.gov.uk/cancer/trackinginvestment.htm
We intend to publish the results in late spring 2003.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Syndrome
Helen Southworth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent evaluation his Department has made of the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning syndrome. [91606]
Ms Blears: The Department does not routinely collect information on the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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Information that the Department evaluates is taken from the other Government Departments and the National Poisons Information service.
Helen Southworth : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure effective (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) rehabilitation for people suffering chronic effects of carbon monoxide poisoning syndrome. [91610]
Ms Blears: In February 2002, the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer published a letter Carbon Monoxide: The Forgotten Killer. This letter pulled together the most current information available on carbon monoxide and was forwarded to community nurses, midwives, health visitors and general practitioners. The letter gives instruction on how to diagnose carbon monoxide poisoning as well as how to manage patients who may display symptoms of poisoning.
The Department has also forwarded a videotape, prepared for the Health and Safety Executive, to all GP surgeries. This tape again highlights the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and gives advice to medical practitioners on how to diagnose possible poisoning cases.
The Department has supported and continues to support voluntary organisations through the Section 64 Grants to Voluntary Organisations Scheme. These organisations provide support and advice for people and their families who have been affected by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Officials in the Department have also published two papers in scientific journals that discuss carbon monoxide poisoning and in particular how exposure to long-term, low concentrations of carbon monoxide can affect health. The Department has also included a research project on carbon monoxide in its most recent programme of research in the air pollution field. The results of this project will be made available to the public on completion.
Cardiac Resuscitation
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients suffering cardiac arrests were resuscitated by ambulance staff, in each ambulance trust area in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [91587]
Mr. Lammy: This information is not collected centrally.
Chronic Heart Disease
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many primary care practices have chronic heart disease management registers. [88750]
Ms Blears: The development of practice-based registers of people with coronary heart disease (CHD) is a milestone under the national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease. We are not collecting data on all aspects of implementation of the NSF centrally and the national focus has been on monitoring the immediate priorities. Progress towards the milestones is being monitored locally by strategic health authorities.
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Evidence from the Primary Care and CHD collaboratives suggests that most practices have registers in place. In due course, the Commission for Health Improvement will provide an independent assessment of progress, including a specific review of the NSF for CHD.
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