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28 Apr 2003 : Column 294W—continued
Social Workers
Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of employing social workers in (a) Worcestershire County Council, (b) Warwickshire County Council, (c) Gloucestershire
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County Council, (d) Birmingham, (e) Coventry, (f) Dudley, (g) Sandwell, (h) Solihull, (i) Walsall and (j) Wolverhampton Metropolitan District Councils. [109358]
Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department of Health.
Specialist Registrars
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of hospitals in England in which there are (a) fewer than six and (b) fewer than 10 established specialist registrars. [109136]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
| Standard Cluster | Registrar group (total number of staff) | Number of trusts with fewer than 10 registrars | Number of trusts with fewer than 6 registrars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute specialist | 567 | 1 | 1 |
| Acute specialist (children) | 319 | 0 | 0 |
| Acute teaching | 5,361 | 0 | 0 |
| Large Acute | 2,525 | 0 | 0 |
| Large Multi-service | 446 | o | 0 |
| Medium Acute | 1,263 | 0 | 0 |
| Medium Multi-service | 348 | 3 | 0 |
| Priority single service (79) | 479 | 10 | 7 |
| Small Acute | 899 | 2 | 2 |
| Small Multi-service | 37 | 2 | 1 |
| Specialised community (80) | 561 | 48 | 36 |
(79) Priority single service consists of learning disability & mental health hospitals.
(80) Specialised community cluster consists of community hospitals with mental health and care trusts.Note:Excludes organisations with no staff in the registrar group.Source:Department of Health Medical & Dental workforce census.
Sustainable Policies (NHS)
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what progress have been made in reducing energy use in the NHS; [108683]
- (2) what progress has been made on embedding sustainable practice in the National Health Service; [108652]
(3) what progress have been made in producing a low carbon economy in the NHS. [108653]
Mr. Hutton: The National Health Service has been highly successful in meeting the energy efficiency target of 20 per cent, reduction in energy use from 1990 to March 2000.
In April 2001, in accordance with the Government Climate Change Programme, the Department of Health introduced mandatory targets for NHS organisations in
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England with the aim or reducing the level of primary energy consumed and also carbon emissions produced by the NHS. The targets are:
- To reduce the level of primary energy consumption by 15 per cent, or 0.15 million tonnes carbon from March 2000 to March 2010.
To achieve a target of 32—55 Gigajoules per 100 cubic metres (Gj/lOOcu.m) energy efficiency performance for the healthcare estate for all new capital developments andmajor redevelopments or refurbishments; and that all existing facilities should achieve a target of 55–65 Gj/lOOcu.m.
To assist the NHS work towards meeting these targets and embedding sustainable practices in the NHS, NHS Estates issued the "New Environmental Strategy for the NHS" in 2002 together with the guidance document, "Sustainable Development in the NHS" and the software tool, "NHS Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT)". NHS Estates is also working closely with Action Energy and the Carbon Trust to support the NHS and provide them with best practice advice and guidance on sustainable practices and improving energy efficiency.
Teenage Health Services
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will recognise teenagers as a separate category for the delivery of health services. [109412]
Jacqui Smith: We recognise that teenagers have particular needs, as far as their health and wellbeing are concerned, that differ from those of younger children or adults. Furthermore, they have different educational and social needs that should also be considered in the design and delivery of health services.
On 10 April 2003, we published the first part of Getting the right start: the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services, covering the standard for hospital services. Throughout the NSF, the particular needs of different age groups, including teenagers, will be addressed, as will periods of transition between different stages of childhood from pre-birth to adolescence and subsequently into adulthood. The hospital standard recommends that the needs of adolescents are given careful consideration in hospital, such as their need for privacy. We have consulted widely with teenagers, as well as younger children and parents, during the development of the NSF.
Trust Boards (Hemsworth)
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list people appointed to (a) NHS trusts and (b) primary care trusts in the Hemsworth constituency who have previously neither served on NHS trust boards nor held any other public appointment; [109871]
- (2) if he will list the persons appointed to NHS trusts who live in the Hemsworth constituency. [109870]
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Mr. Lammy: There are currently no people living in the Hemsworth constituency serving on the boards of national health service trusts. However, the following people who live in the constituency are currently serving on other national health service boards.
- William Barker—chair, Wakefield West Primary Care Trust (PCT)
David Bond—non-executive, Eastern Wakefield PCT
Roger Grasby—non-executive, West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority
Sandra Handy—non-executive, Wakefield West PCT
Roy Hirst—non-executive, Eastern Wakefield PCT
Donald Marshall—non-executive, Eastern Wakefield PCT
Roy Widdowson—chair, Eastern Wakefield PCT
- Jane Beesley—non-executive, Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust
Aysha Divan—non-executive, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals HNS Trust
Anita Fatchett—non-executive, Wakefield West Primary Care Trust
Janette Firth—non-executive, Wakefield West Primary Care Trust
Sandra Handy—non-executive, Wakefield West Primary Care Trust
Stephen Hardy—non-executive, Wakefield West Primary Care Trust
Thiruvenkatar Krishnapillai—non-executive, South West Yorkshire Mental Health NHS Trust
Donald Marshall—non-executive, Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust
George Nairn-Briggs—non-executive, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Nabeela Yasin-Iannelli—non-executive, Eastern Wakefield Primary Care Trust
Tube Feeding/Hydration
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the guidelines for doctors issued by the British Medical Association and the General Medicial Council on withdrawing or withholding tube feeding and hydration from patients who are not dying. [108537]
Mr. Lammy: Artificial nutrition and hydration are a form of medical treatment and are subject to the same principles as those governing medical treatment. There is no lawful justification for giving or continuing treatment that is not in the best interests of a patient who is unable to consent. The guidance from the British Medical Association and General Medical Council is in line with this legal position.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues on action relatives may take should they wish to dispute a decision taken by doctors to end a patient's life by withdrawal of food or fluid when this action has not been requested by the patient. [108662]
Mr. Lammy: Any decision to withdraw artificial nutrition and hydration where the patient lacks the capacity to consent must be made in the best interests of
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that patient, based on a judgment that this treatment is of no curative or beneficial effect. Professional guidance states that those close to the patient should be involved in the assessment of the patient's best interests. Where relatives wish to dispute a decision taken about the treatment of a patient who lacks the capacity to consent, they can take this up through the national health service complaints procedure or seek a court judgment. The Department of Health does not issue guidance for relatives specifically on this issue.
Tuberculosis
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) the London Boroughs of (i) Newham and (ii) Brent and (b) the Department for Education and Skills on tuberculosis. [106560]
Ms Blears: The London TB Group, which includes representatives from the London Boroughs of Newham and Brent, meets on a regular basis.
One of the aims of the Newham scrutiny commission on tuberculosis is to improve awareness of tuberculosis (TB) through education in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills. Newham hosted a World TB Day conference on 24 and 25 March this year with the theme 'People with TB'.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to help local health authorities in (a) improving early referral and (b) proactive screening of high risk groups for tuberculosis; and what form proactive screening of high risk groups for tuberculosis by local health authorities will take. [106561]
Ms Blears: Primary care trusts (PCTs) have their own arrangements in place for screening and referral of patients in high-risk categories for tuberculosis (TB).
The forthcoming TB Action Plan aims to issue standardised advice for all PCTs to follow.
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