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14 Apr 2003 : Column 618W—continued
Obesity
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward statutory instruments to reduce obesity. [107007]
Ms Blears: The Government are committed to action to prevent and manage obesity in children and adults, particularly as it increases the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. The Government are not considering statutory instruments to reduce obesity. However, action to address obesity is being taken forward through the national service frameworks for coronary heart disease, older people and diabetes. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence have also been asked to develop guidance on identification, prevention and management of obesity and maintenance of weight reduction. The Health Development Agency is setting out the evidence base for effective interventions on the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity, and the maintenance of weight loss.
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Over-Medication
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which aspects of the Research and Development Strategy for the National Standards Framework on older people will examine the extent of inappropriate prescribing in care homes and its causes. [107294]
Jacqui Smith: No research is currently being funded in this area in relation to the national service framework. A recent call for proposals did not attract research of sufficiently high quality. However, the Department not only commissions research but is aware of and draws upon high quality research funded by other organisations, including work in this area.
Parliamentary Question
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the Question from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, ref 103543, tabled for answer on 18 March. [107188]
Jacqui Smith [holding answer 4 April 2003]: I replied to the hon. Member today.
Patient Forums
Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many statutory patients forums and patient and public involvement forums he expects there to be in place on (a) 1 September 2003, (b) 1 January 2004 and (c) 1 April 2004. [108997]
Mr. Lammy: It is the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health's intention to have all patient and public involvement forums in place by 31 December 2003.
It is not possible to predict the outcome of the recruitment exercise to patients' forums and be more specific about how many forums will be in place at any time before the end of the year.
Patients' Rights
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding the right of NHS patients to choose to have operations performed in hospitals outside the UK within the EU. [105860]
Mr. Hutton: Over the past three months members of the public have made representations regarding the right to be treated abroad through a number of different routes. Letters of inquiry, e-mails and phone calls are received from patients, asking about their rights to be treated abroad in general terms.
The table shows the number of Private Office, and Treat Official correspondence received over the last three months. These figures include inquiries regarding the direct referral system only, as figures relating to the numbers of queries regarding the E112 system are not available. 221 E112 referrals have been authorised in the last three months.
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The hon. Member may also wish to be aware of an application to the High Court for judicial review of a decision to refuse an application for treatment in France in the case of Watts v. Bedford Primary Care Trust. The hearing was on 9–11 April; judgment was reserved and is awaited.
| Month | Private Office Correspondence | Treat Official Correspondence |
|---|---|---|
| January 2003 | 0 | 6 |
| February 2003 | 1 | 1 |
| March 2003 | 2 | 1 |
Prescriptions
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the right to prescribe medicines. [107751]
Mr. Hutton: We have already taken a number of steps to extend responsibilities for prescribing medicines at National Health Service expense in England.
Over 23,000 nurses with a district nurse or health visitor qualification are able to prescribe from a limited formulary designed to meet the needs of their patients.
Since April 2002, many nurses have also been able to prescribe an extended range of medicines, designed to enable them to treat a broader range of medical conditions.
From 4 April 2003, we have introduced supplementary prescribing for nurses and pharmacists, in accordance with a patient-specific clinical management plan, drawn up in agreement with and following diagnosis by a doctor.
Ministerial colleagues are now considering how to take forward the extension of prescribing responsibilities for some allied health professions and optometrists.
Primary Care Trusts
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial allocation is to the primary care trusts in (a) Redbridge and (b) Waltham Forest; how this compares to the allocation to the three PCTs which previously covered the area; what the overall per capita funding is for the population in each PCT; and if he will make a statement. [108071]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is shown in the tables.
| PCT | Allocation (£000) |
|---|---|
| Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford | 109,461 |
| Redbridge | 160,654 |
| Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone | 163,981 |
| Total | 434,096 |
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| PCT | Allocation (£000) | Population | Allocations per unweighted head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redbridge | 207,662 | 218,984 | 948 |
| Waltham Forest | 226,435 | 227,295 | 996 |
| Total | 434,096 |
The three year allocations for the Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT, Redbridge PCT and Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT were announced on 11 December by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health. From 1 April 2003, these PCTs merged to establish two PCTs covering the boroughs of Redbridge and Waltham Forest respectively. The total allocation has not been changed by the reconfiguration.
Protective Equipment
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have not carried out exercises with chemical, biological and radiological protective equipment in the last (a) six months and (b) three years. [104160]
Mr. Hutton: All ambulance and acute trusts are required to test all their own contingency plans, including chemical, biological radiological and nuclear, on a regular basis and take part in multi-agency exercises.
Each strategic health authority has been asked to review the plans and arrangements in every one for their trusts to confirm that they are satisfactory. This review and assessment of readiness to respond to incidents from any cause will be completed by mid-March.
Psychotherapists
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has held with the Health Professions Council concerning the regulation of psychotherapists; and if he will make a statement. [108819]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 11 April 2003]: The Department has held no discussions with the Health Professions Council about the regulation of psychotherapists.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to legislate for the regulation of psychotherapists. [108821]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 11 April 2003]: We believe in principle to a move towards statutory regulation within the framework of the Health Act 1999 for psychotherapists and other related groups. The Government have given an undertaking to assess all the important factors including the professions' readiness for better regulation and the availability of parliamentary time in order to be in a position to proceed.
Public Health Bodies
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) the Commission for Health Improvement and (b) the National Care Standards Commission will
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remain in place until the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection are fully established and functioning. [106645]
Mr. Hutton: Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Commission for Social Care Inspection will be established and functioning from April 2004.
Until that time, the Commission for Health Improvement and the National Care Standards Commission will remain in place. Their work programmes to April 2004 have been developed to facilitate the transfer of functions to the new inspectorates.
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