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12 Jun 2003 : Column 1078W—continued
Medical Defence Organisations
Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the implications for clinicians and patients of medical defence organisations making their indemnity available on a discretionary basis; and if he will make a statement. [115899]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 3 June 2003]: Professional indemnity should ensure that patients who have suffered harm receive the compensation to which they are entitled. Indemnity cover should be occurrence based, that is claims are met that arise from events when the clinician was covered but only come to light later, even if this is after the period of cover has ceased. Experience in the United Kingdom is that proper indemnity cover can be provided through membership of a defence society or a suitable insurance policy.
Medical Technologies
Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary about the potential of identity cards to prevent those not ordinarily resident in the UK from receiving free NHS treatment. [118344]
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Mr. Hutton: My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Health has had discussions with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on a range of issues relating to the potential uses of identity cards, including as a means of confirming eligibility for free national health service treatment. No decisions have yet been made.
Men's Health
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has conducted in (a) the UK and (b) other EU member states, into young male suicide rates and methods of reducing the rate in the UK. [118496]
Jacqui Smith: The Department of Health has conducted a number of pieces of research relating to the question.
- The national programme on forensic mental health research and development was established in April 1999 and built on the work of the research and development programme set up as part of the High Security Psychiatric Services Commissioning Board (first established in September 1996). The programme supports the evidence base for the provision of services for mentally disordered offenders by commissioning research and developing research capacity.
Response from the forensic mental health (FMH) project on 'Aspects of Suicide among mentally disordered offenders' project.
The National Research Register (www.update-software.com/nrr/) has 30 on-going projects listed on suicide and just over 200 recently completed projects.
Some European studies on suicide.
The Department has also recently commissioned a research project that will examine coroners' records for details of around 570 cases of suicide involving hanging (the most common method of suicide for men in England), firearms or self-poisoning. The study is being undertaken on a collaborative basis by researchers at the Universities of Oxford, Bristol and Manchester. It will report by the end of 2003 and will provide evidence to support the implementation of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England.
In 2002 the Department of Health published a 'National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England'. This identified young men as a key high risk of suicide group and also refers to research which is being promoted by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) into high risk groups such as young men.
NHS Appointments Commission
Mr. Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many appointments to the position of Chairman have been made by the NHS Appointments Commission since its inception, broken down by (a) recognised medical or nursing qualification, (b) in-service professionals from medicine, nursing and other clinical or health-related backgrounds and (c) other backgrounds, experience and qualifications. [116936]
Mr. Lammy: Since it was established, the National Health Service Appointments Commission has appointed 370 chairs to NHS boards. Information on the precise categories identified in the question is not available. However, 38 of those appointed as chairs have declared a medical, nursing or other background in professions allied to medicine. People who are currently employed by a health service body are statutorily disqualified from appointment as a NHS chair or non-executive director.
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NHS Direct
Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive regarding the application of experience from the operation of NHS Direct in (a) reducing staff turnover, (b) adopting family friendly work routines and (c) general call handling to NHS24. [113757]
Mr. Lammy: NHS 24 has worked closely with NHS Direct in developing the service and is committed to continuous dialogue with the purpose of shared learning and good practice for the benefit of staff and service users.
NHS Managers
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many managers within the NHS earned (a) between £20,000 and £40,000 per annum, (b) £41,000 to £60,000 per annum, (c) £61,000 to £80,000 per annum, (d) £81,000 to £100,000 per annum and (e) over £100,000 per annum in each year since 1997. [113253]
Mr. Hutton: The available figures for health authorities, National Health Service trusts, primary care trusts and special health authorities are shown in the table.
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £40,000 to £60,000 | 4,768 | 5,255 | 6,323 | 6,076 |
| £60,000 to £80,000 | 1,339 | 1,464 | 1,544 | 1,026 |
| £80,000 to £100,000 | 419 | 535 | 650 | 421 |
| Over £100,000 | 97 | 127 | 193 | 259 |
| Total | 6,623 | 7,381 | 8,710 | 7,782 |
Notes:
(6) The accounts and summarisation forms do not distinguish between medical and non-medical staff in health authorities and special health authorities. The figures in the Table therefore include some medical staff who are not managers. The figures also include medical directors in NHS Trusts.
(7) NHS locally published accounts now give individual details of earning and names of senior staff and directors in accordance with the Greenbury Code. This level of detail is not collected centrally so comparable figures are not available for 2001–02 onwards.
(8) Figures for staff in health authorities in 2000–01 are not yet available as they are not disclosed in the accounts or summarisation schedules. Banding: Staff remuneration is not itemised in bands of less than £40,000 to £50,000
Sources:
Health authority audited accounts 1997–98 and 1998–9
Health authority audited summarisation forms 1999–2000
NHS Trust audited summarisation schedules 1997–98 to 2001–02
Primary care trust audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2001–02
Special health authority audited accounts 1997.
Oldchurch Hospital
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce the mortality rate at Oldchurch Hospital in Romford. [113468]
Mr. Hutton: The responsibility for improving mortality rates at Oldchurch Hospital rests with, initially, Barking, Havering and Redbridge National Health Service Trust who are accountable to North East London Strategic Health Authority.
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I understand that work is underway to look at the trend in mortality rates and the following has been put in place by the audit team and medical director at the trust:
- A trust-wide mortality group lead the by medical director and with the associate medical directors to review any unexpected data
Monthly mortality review groups at speciality level to review all deaths
Data is now available via the trust's intranet enabling clinicians to monitor their own mortality data and identify areas for audit
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to the question tabled on 19 May by the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich, ref. 115174, on diagnostic and treatment centres. [118900]
Mr. Hutton: I replied to my hon. Friend's question on 10 June.
Mr. Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his holding answer of 16 May 2003, when he will reply to the question, ref. 113929. [118901]
Mr. Hutton: I replied to my right hon. Friend on Monday 19 May 2003, Official Report, column 613–14W.
Partnership Agreements
Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to conclude a partnership agreement with the trade unions representing the staff in his Department. [117456]
Mr. Lammy: The Department of Health signed up to a Partnership Working Agreement in April 2001. This agreement was based on the national model and was signed with the following unions:
- Public and Commercial Services
Prospect
Association of First Division Civil Servants
Department Trade Union side.
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