House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 25 Mar 2003 (pt 26)

25 Mar 2003 : Column 211W—continued

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research (a) has been conducted and (b) he intends to commission into (i) the causes and (ii) potential treatments for reflex sympathetic dystrophy. [103568]

Mr. Lammy: The main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its funding from the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology. The MRC is not currently funding any research on reflex sympathetic dystrophy. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are considered in open competition with other demands on funding.

The Department funds research to support policy and delivery of effective practice in health and social care. The Department is not currently funding any research on reflex sympathetic dystrophy and has no plans to commission such work.

Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (Contingency Provisions)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contingency plans the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital is making for (a) cover for health professionals called up to serve in the Territorial Army and (b) the possibility of terrorist attacks. [104618]

Mr. Lammy: All national health service bodies are required to develop contingency plans to enable them to cope with the current international situation. The Department of Health is working with the Ministry of Defence to minimise disruption to NHS services. In common with all NHS organisations, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital NHS Trust has robust plans for dealing with the aftermath of any possible terrorist attack.

Special Advisers

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special advisers in the Department (a) have left and (b) will be leaving to work in Scotland for the Labour Party in the forthcoming Scottish parliamentary elections. [103607]

Mr. Lammy: The rules relating to special advisers' political activities are set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Further guidance in respect of elections for the Scottish Parliament is set out at paragraph 13 of the Guidance on Conduct for Civil Servants in United Kingdom Departments, published by the Cabinet Office on 10 March.

The reasons for a special adviser's resignation are a private matter between the Department and adviser and are therefore exempt from disclosure under paragraph 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Information.

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Seroxat

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of comments made by the coroner in the case of Mr. Whitefield about the drug Seroxat; and what plans he has to request a review of the safety of Seroxat. [103843]

Ms Blears: Following the tragic death of Mr. Whitefield two weeks after commencing treatment with paroxetine (Seroxat), an antidepressant of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has taken careful note of the comments of the coroner for Brecon. The MCA has also written to the coroner to obtain further details of Mr. Whitefield's case.

Since it was authorised in 1990 the safety of paroxetine (Seroxat) has been closely monitored by the MCA and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The CSM has considered the question of suicidal behaviour in association with Seroxat on a number of occasions and carefully assessed any new data. CSM has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to confirm a causal relationship between SSRIs and suicidal behaviour.

CSM has advised that it is general clinical experience that patients taking any antidepressant may develop an increase in suicidal behaviour in the first few weeks of treatment. Product information for prescribers and patients for all SSRIs has been amended to include warnings that suicidal behaviour may increase in the early stages of treatment with any antidepressant. In September 2000, an article was published in the drug safety bulletin, Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance, which is distributed to all doctors and pharmacists.

An expert working group on the safety of SSRIs has been set up by the CSM to review the current available evidence relating to the safety of SSRIs, including paroxetine, particularly in relation to suicidal behaviour and withdrawal reactions. The expert working group will report its findings to CSM in due course.

Sexual Assault

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what compulsory training school nurses undertake in (a) sexually transmitted infections and (b) sexual assault; and what training they undergo designed to ensure that a comprehensive advice and referral service is available to pupils. [101334]

Ms Blears: While there is no compulsory additional training for school nurses specifically around sexually transmitted infections and sexual assault, as registered nurses they would be expected to have knowledge and understanding of these issues as well as details of local services should referral be appropriate. Standards for qualification as a specialist practitioner in school nursing specify that the practitioner should be able to:

Empower children, adolescents and their families to influence and use available services, information and skills to the full and act as advocate where appropriate.

Initiate the management of cases involving potential or actual physical or psychological abuse and potentially violent situations.

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Urological Cancers (NICE Guidance)

Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to provide instructions to strategic health authorities and local cancer networks to take account of the possible whole service impact of their interpretation of implementation of the NICE guidance on improving outcomes in urological cancers; and if he will make a statement. [102796]

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Ms Blears [holding answer 17 March 2003]: In line with the principles of Shifting the Balance of Power, the Department of Health has issued no specific requirement to Strategic Health Authorities or cancer networks about interpretation or implementation of this guidance. It will be for cancer networks, in collaboration with local stakeholders including StHAs, to decide how best to implement this guidance.