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11 Apr 2003 : Column 441W—continued

Blood Donors

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people gave blood in Buckinghamshire in (a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [106935]

Ms Blears: Figures showing the number of blood donors in Buckinghamshire, received from the National Blood Service, for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are shown in the table.

Financial year	Number of donors(4)	Donations collected
2001–02	25,970	31,361
2002–03	25,963	30,258

⁽⁴⁾ Donor numbers taken at the mid-year point.

Cancer Services

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government intend to extend the breast screening programme to women over the age of 70. [108300]

Ms Blears: There is little research evidence to show whether or not population screening in the over 70s is effective in reducing mortality. What little evidence there is suggests that screening in this way may not be effective and could even do more harm than good to some women. However, for some individual women there will always be a clear benefit in screening. Women aged over 70 will be offered free three yearly screening on request when the extension to women aged 65 to 70 is fully implemented, as are women aged 65 and over now. Women who have already participated in the programme will be informed of this right after the age of 70.

The availability of screening for older women is widely publicised. In particular, the national health service breast screening programme has worked with Age Concern to encourage older women to request screening.

Correspondence

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of (a) 14 November 2002, (b) 11 December 2002, (c) 7 January, (d) 6 February and (e) 5 March relating to her constituent Mrs. Heather Peto of Hoddesdon. [101932]

Ms Blears [holding answer 10 March 2003]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on Tuesday 8 April.

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Dementia

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve services for people with dementia in the South West. [107392]

Ms Blears [holding answer 8 April 2003]: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that the needs of people with dementia and their carers are met. For that reason, the national service framework (NSF) for older people has set a standard and within this a service model that includes access to specialist care to ensure effective diagnosis, treatment and support. Local programmes are being developed as part of the NSF to improve services for older people with mental health problems, including dementia.

In the south west peninsula, local specialist mental health, primary care and social services provide a range of services for people with dementia and their carers. This includes in-patient units for assessment and treatment, respite provision, community mental health teams, day services and support in the home and for carers. In Dorset and Somerset, there is capital investment to support mental health services, and partnerships have been developed with local community mental health groups. In Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, a planning and priorities framework target on mental health and older people has been included in local delivery plans.

Departmental Annual Report

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the 2002 annual report of the Department will be published. [107872]

Mr. Lammy: The spring 2003 Departmental reports are due to be published between 28 April and 16 May 2003. We plan to publish our Departmental Report during this period.

Endometriosis

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve training on the recognition and treatment of endometriosis; and where centres of excellence in endometriosis will be located. [107891]

Ms Blears: We are determined to improve the awareness of endometriosis and training of general practitioners, as the first point of contact for women with this condition. Departmental officials are working with the National Endometriosis Society (NES) and the Simply Holistic Endometriosis (SHE) Trust to see if a robust application can be drawn up for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop clinical guidelines on endometriosis for general practitioners. This is still at an early stage and there are many calls on the services of NICE as we take forward national health service reforms on a broad front.

NICE is currently undertaking a referral practice project on advice to general practitioners about referring common conditions, the results of which may give us an effective way of offering referral guidance on endometriosis.

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Specialist clinics that treat advanced cases of endometriosis have been developed locally in response to need rather than being organised nationally. Departmental officials have discussed issues around centres of excellence with the NES and other organisations and will continue working with them to see whether further work is appropriate.

Erectile Dysfunction

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent in each of the last five years on awareness campaigns material relating to erectile dysfunction; and if he will make a statement. [108154]

Ms Blears: The Department has not produced any awareness campaigns material relating to erectile dysfunction over the last five years.

However the Department's booklet "Life Begins at 40—Health Tips for Men" published in 1998, contains information on impotence and its causes. The booklet is available form national health service organisations or direct from the health literature line—telephone: [phone].

Haemophilia

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the underspend was on last year's budget for recombinant clotting factor for haemophilia patients in West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust. [107959]

Ms Blears: I have been advised by West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust that during the 2002–03 financial year, as part of a consortium commissioning arrangement, West Gloucestershire has incurred costs of £598,000, of which £512,000 relates to recombinant products, against estimated expenditure of £696,000 (based on costs in 2001–02).

Expenditure can vary significantly between financial years based on the number of patients receiving treatment, the number of units of blood products provided, and the costs of the products themselves.

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what factors are preventing targets for the required amount of recombinant clotting factor for haemophilia patients being met; [107964]

(2) what the budget is for 2003–04 to provide recombinant clotting factor for haemophilia patients. [107962]

Ms Blears: Haemophilia patients up to the age of 21–22 are already receiving recombinant clotting factors. Extra funding will begin the process of extending these products to the remaining haemophilia patients aged over 21–22. The extra funding has been allocated over three years. In 2003–04, there is £13 million available.

We are working with key stakeholders including the Haemophilia Society, clinicians, primary care trusts and others to put in place a strategy to roll out access to these products. We aim to begin the roll out as soon as possible.

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Health and Social Care Act

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is responsible for ensuring that consultations by primary care trusts are in accordance with section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001; and if he will make a statement. [107567]

Mr. Lammy: Strategic health authorities ensure that primary care trusts have arrangements in place for involving and consulting patients and the public. Overview and scrutiny committees of local authorities, under section 7 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001, will require national health service organisations to consult them on any proposal for a substantial development or variation of health services (these regulations will eventually take the place of Community Health Council Regulations).

This is contained in the policy guidance, "Strengthening Accountability: Involving Patients and the Public", published in February 2003. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.

Hospital-acquired Infection

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients from the Buckingham constituency contracted hospital-acquired infections in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001. [107158]

Ms Blears: In the period April 2001 to March 2002, there were 48 cases of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias in the Buckinghamshire area. These figures were published in the Communicable Disease Report (CDR) Weekly on 20 June 2002.

More detailed information is available on the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) website, which can be accessed at: www.phls.co.uk

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