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Eye Care

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye specialists there are in the UK; what their salary rates are; and what proposals he has to increase their number. [109205]

Mr. Lammy: At March 2002 there were 687 consultants in ophthalmology in England.

As at 30 September 2001 there were 359 registrars for ophthalmology in the national health service in England. The output from these existing registrar training places, together with other increases through improved recruitment and retention, international recruitment and promotion of flexible retirement after

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allowing for expected retirements in the specialty is expected to result in around 821 trained specialists being available in ophthalmology by 2004.

In addition, since last year, trusts have been given the flexibility to fund additional specialist registrar posts where they choose to do so, up to a maximum in each specialty. This is enabling trusts to build a workforce capable of meeting local demand and improve the delivery of patient care. In 2003–04 this could amount to an additional 40 training opportunities nationally in ophthalmology.

The current salary range for consultants is £52,640 to £68,505. Decisions on the level of remuneration for 2003–04 will be taken in the light of the report from the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body when this is available. In addition, consultants can also receive consolidated pay through two other sources. These are discretionary points from their employers for above average contribution to local NHS services, or distinction awards for contributions to the wider NHS at regional, national or international level.

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent on research on eye conditions since 1997; and if he will make a statement on the progress made. [109203]

Mr. Lammy: The main Government agency into the causes and treatments of 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. Between 1997–98 and 2001–02, the MRC spent a total of £24.4 million on research into vision. This research was into eye function and eye disorders, the causes of visual defects including blindness, short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and squints; reduced visual field; cataracts and glaucoma; retinal disease such as macular degeneration and problems with eye movement control.

As an example of progress made, the gene that controls development of the eye has been found by researchers at the MRC's human genetics unit. Mutations in a gene called SOX2 have been identified as one of the causes of babies born without eyes. Identifying very rare disease-associated genes provides an important stepping stone to understanding the biological networks involved in other, sometimes more common, related diseases. The research team has explored the role of SOX2 in the development and the adult maintenance of the lens and the retina. Genes that regulate eye development also play a role in eye maintenance after birth, so understanding their function may help in the management of later onset sight problems such as macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma.

The Department funds research to support policy and delivery of effective health and social care. The Department and the Chief Scientist's Office, Scotland, together spent about £2million on projects covering a wide range of eye conditions. The Department has asked the national Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to conduct an appraisal of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular degeneration and provide guidance on its use on the National Health Service. NICE has not yet issued any guidance to the NHS on this.

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Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with organisations which assist those with sight loss. [109204]

Jacqui Smith: There have been two meetings between Department of Health Ministers and organisations interested in sight loss in the past six months. On 4 October 2002, the then Under-Secretary of State, my noble Friend the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, met Mary Bairstow, an optometrist working with the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) on low vision services. On 21 February 2003, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State (John Hutton) opened a low vision centre at the headquarters of the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Department has to reduce availability of eye tests for children through school medical services. [109031]

Mr. Lammy [holding answer 14 April 2003]: The United Kingdom National Screening Committee is currently considering the role of routine vision screening in schools and I look forward to receiving the Committee's views in due course. In the meantime, there are no plans to reduce eye tests undertaken at school.

Foundation Hospitals

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will compensate the central NHS funding pool for the loss of the value of assets sold for their own use by foundation hospitals. [108430]

Mr. Hutton: The establishment of National Health Service foundation trusts will not reduce the amount of capital available for developing NHS services for NHS patients, so no compensation will be necessary.

General Practice

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in England are registered with a GP. [106883]

Mr. Hutton: At 30 September 2001, the latest published data, 51,249,672 people were recorded asregistered with a general practitioner or with a provider of personal medical services in England. However, it is not possible to express this accurately as a percentage of the population because of "list inflation''. This arises where a patient moves his or her registration and for a transitional period may be registered on two lists. Similarly, an individual who dies or moves outside England may remain on a list for a time.

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed GP contract on the confidentiality of patient records; and if he will make a statement. [109963]

Mr. Hutton: Everyone working in the national health service, in any capacity, has a contractual obligation to respect and protect patient confidentiality. Clinicians are additionally bound by professional obligations. Nothing in the proposed new contract for general medical services will change this.

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Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on access rights to the contracts containing the terms and conditions of individual GPs. [110002]

Mr. Hutton: The new contract for general medical services negotiated between the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and the NHS Confederation is now with the profession for their consideration.

Under the new contract details of financial transaction between the national health service and practices will remain confidential, but patients will have a new Patient Services Guarantee (by which patients are assured that they will continue to be offered at least the range of services that they currently enjoy), and a Practice Leaflet including the services available and how to obtain them, patients' rights and responsibilities, opening hours and appointments systems and other essential information.

Haemophilia

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many haemophilia patients there are in England. [107960]

Ms Blears: Figures from the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation indicate that there are 5,804 haemophilia patients in England.

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many suppliers of recombinant clotting factor for haemophilia patients there are in the UK. [107961]

Ms Blears: There are five global companies which supply recombinant clotting factor products to the national health service in England. The companies are Bayer PLC, Wyeth/Genetics Institute, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Novo Nordisk Limited and Aventis Behring.

Health Care Criteria

Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities have found that the local NHS continuing health care criteria used at some point since 1996 in each of their areas has not complied with (a) NHS continuing health care guidance and (b) the Coughlan judgment. [110047]

Jacqui Smith: Strategic health authorities have considered whether continuing care criteria in use in their area since 1996 were consistent with the Coughlan judgment. Some are taking further legal advice and will be reporting on this to the Department of Health by the end of May.

Mr. O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people each strategic health authority estimates have been wrongly assessed under local eligibility criteria that did not comply with the Coughlan judgment and have therefore had their care paid by themselves or social services. [110048]

Jacqui Smith: Strategic health authorities will report to the Department by the end of May with an estimate.

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