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3 Jun 2003 : Column 355W—continued
Caesarean Births
Tim Loughton To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many caesarean deliveries there have been
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in each of the last six years; and what percentage of overall births those figures represented in each year. [114729]
Jacqui Smith: The table shows estimated numbers and percentages of deliveries by caesarean section for years 1996–97 to 2001–02. The information is taken from the data published in national health service Maternity Statistics, England: 2001–02. The bulletin, number 2003/09, was published on 16 May 2003, and a copy has been placed in the Library and is also available on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0309.htm.
| Estimated numbers of caesarean deliveries | Percentage of deliveries that were by caesarean | |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 120,800 | 22.3 |
| 2000–01 | 118,200 | 21.5 |
| 1999–2000 | 116,500 | 20.6 |
| 1998–99 | 110,300 | 19.1 |
| 1997–98 | 106,500 | 18.2 |
| 1998–99 | 101,100 | 17.0 |
Source:
Department of Health, Statistics Division 3G—Maternity Hospital Episode Statistics
Cancer Services
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is a teenage cancer unit which serves young people in (a) the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency, (b) Teesside and (c) the Government Office north east region; and if he will make a statement on national treatments and units for teenager cancer sufferers. [115550]
Jacqui Smith: The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne serves all teenagers diagnosed with cancer within the Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East constituency, Teesside and the north east region. However, patients may be referred elsewhere for radiotherapy.
Action is being taken to help meet the specific needs of teenagers with cancer. We are providing funding through the national cancer research network to enable more teenage cancer patients to enter trials of the latest treatments. In addition, we are also looking at how teenagers can participate in the design of health services centred around their particular needs. This is being addressed through the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health.
The contribution of patients will also be reflected in the forthcoming national service framework (NSF) for children, young people and maternity services, which will drive up standards of care in all health and social care settings for all children and young people. The NSF will also inform guidance which the National Institute for Clinical Excellence is developing on children's and adolescent cancers.
Cancer Treatment (Waiting Times)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waited more than (a) 12 and (b) 18 months for cancer treatment in the most recent year for which figures are available. [111767]
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Ms Blears: The NHS Cancer Plan sets out our strategy to reduce waiting times for cancer patients. The ultimate goal is that no one should wait longer that one month from an urgent referral for suspected cancer to the beginning of treatment except for a good clinical reason or through patient choice; it is planned to achieve this by 2008. There is a series of staged milestones towards this goal: from 2001, new targets of a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer and a maximum one month from urgent general practitioner referral to treatment for acute leukaemia, children's cancer and testicular cancer were introduced. From 2002, the target of a maximum wait of two months from urgent referral to treatment for breast cancer was introduced. By 2005, there will be targets of a maximum one month wait from diagnosis to treatment and a maximum two month wait from urgent GP referral to treatment for all cancers. Data on current targets are published on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/cancerwaits.
Cardiology Services
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waiting for heart operations for more than six months have been offered operations at alternative hospitals; and at which alternative hospitals. [114730]
Ms Blears: At the last date for which provisional figures were available, of a total of 6,387 patients waiting more than six months for heart surgery, 4,675 were deemed clinically eligible for the option of treatment elsewhere. Of these, 4,532 made a choice, and of this number 2,082 opted for treatment at an alternative centre. No information is held centrally regarding numbers treated at individual alternative hospitals. Patients opting to travel for treatment are able to choose between any appropriate national health service facility with the spare capacity to treat them, or a range of private facilities in the United Kingdom and two facilities in Belgium.
Cheshire and Merseyside SHA
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what training the Chief Executive of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has undergone since her appointment; [112307]
- (2) what recent training the Chief Executive of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has received (a) in dealing with complaints from and (b) on the role of Members. [112309]
Jacqui Smith: Any successful applicant for the post of chief executive of a Strategic Health Authority (SHA) will have been required to be able to demonstrate that they had achieved a level of competencies, abilities and experience appropriate to the post, as determined by a national recruitment and assessment process. All chief executives have access to a national leadership development programme.
The Chief Executive of Cheshire and Merseyside SHA has not had any formal training on complaints handling or on the role of right hon. and hon. Members.
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Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was claimed in expenses by the director of communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in the last financial year. [115632]
Jacqui Smith: The head of communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority claimed £3,719.04 in expenses during 2002–03.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place for reviewing the performance of the director of communications of the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. [115633]
Jacqui Smith: The head of communications at the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has regular reviews with his line manager and an annual performance review.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority on communications and publicity in the last financial year. [115634]
Jacqui Smith: The total expenditure of the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority (CMSHA) on communications and publicity amounts to £65,847.43. Of this, £51,224.43 was for salaries, including on-call costs.
The CMSHA spent £1,623 and the Cheshire and Merseyside work force development confederation spent £13,000 on communications and publicity.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff at the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority work on (a) communications strategy and (b) press relations. [115635]
Jacqui Smith: The Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority communications team has three full-time employees. The role covers communications strategy and press relations, briefing and patient and public involvement.
In addition to this, the Cheshire and Merseyside work force development confederation has one full-time vacancy.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual salary is of the Director of Communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. [115636]
Jacqui Smith: The annual salary of the Head of Communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority is £42,000.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training courses the Director of Communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has attended since his appointment. [115637]
Jacqui Smith: The Head of Communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority took up his post in October 2002. He has received personal and professional development through the national communications network and national patient and public involvement network. He has recently attended a course on performance development and review for managers.
3 Jun 2003 : Column 359W
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what professional qualifications are held by the Director of Communications of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. [115638]
Jacqui Smith: The Head of Communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has a BA (Hons) upper second in public administration and a postgraduate diploma in management studies.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people applied for the post of Director of Communications at Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority; and how many were interviewed. [115639]
Jacqui Smith: A total of 28 applicants applied for the post of Head of Communications at the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority. From the 28 applicants, six people were short-listed for interview and four people attended the interview.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of the job description of the director of communications of Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in the Library. [115640]
Jacqui Smith: The job description for the head of communications at the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority has been placed in the Library.
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