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3 Jul 2003 : Column 475W—continued
Basildon Hospital
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had on the provision of a new cardiac centre at Basildon hospital; when the Essex Strategic Health Authority will consider the final plans; how many heart operations a year the centre will perform; what range of procedures and operations will be available at the unit; and when the unit will become available for use. [122340]
Dr. Ladyman: There has been continued long-term investment in the capital infrastructure to support further expansion of cardiac surgery and to reduce waiting times. 12 major capital developments schemes have so far been announced; four in March 2001 and eight in November 2001, at a total cost of over £300 million.
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The cardiac scheme in Basildon is one of a number of additional schemes, which have not yet been announced but where planning is proceeding and Department of Health officials are being kept informed of progress. The scheme will need to progress through the normal planning procedures including demonstrating local commissioner support to enable a final decision to be made.
Botox
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the regulatory status is of an ampoule of botox; and what the restrictions are on its (a) sale and (b) prescription; [123063]
- (2) what plans he has to ensure that administration of botox injections is regulated; [123064]
(3) what medical qualifications are needed in order to administer botox injections. [123065]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 2 July 2003]: Botox is legally classified as a prescription only medicine. As such, it may be sold or supplied by a doctor direct to his/her patient or to a person responsible for the patient's care. Otherwise, it may only be sold or supplied against a doctor's prescription by or under the supervision of a pharmacist on registered pharmacy premises.
The administration of Botox is regulated under the Medicines Act 1968. As a parenteral medicine, it may be self administered, administered by a doctor or a dentist, or administered by anyone in accordance with the directions of a doctor or a dentist. These directions must be specific to the patient.
Parenteral medicines may also be administered by specified groups of health professional, such as nurses and ambulance paramedics, under a patient group direction.
Cancer Plan
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new staff have been employed as a result of the Cancer Plan. [120612]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Additional funding was made available in the NHS Cancer Plan, rising to an extra £570 million a year by 2003–04. Some of this is being used to make substantial investment in staff, with a wide range of new appointments that are contributing to the delivery of cancer care.
The table shows good progress in increasing the number of doctors working in cancer services. This increase means the national health service is on track to hit the target set out in the Cancer Plan of nearly 1,000 extra cancer consultants by 2006. The table also shows that we are making good progress with increasing the number of radiographers working in the NHS. The overall increase of 50,000 nurses working in the NHS will also enable the recruitment of additional cancer-site specific nurse specialists, chemotherapy nurses, district nurses, palliative care nurse specialists and additional nurses on wards caring for cancer patients.
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| Numbers (headcount) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1999 | Sept 2002 | Change |
| All Cancer specialties, of which: | 3,362 | 3,913 | 551 |
| Clinical oncology | 305 | 315 | 10 |
| Clinical radiology | 1,507 | 1,702 | 195 |
| Haematology | 510 | 588 | 78 |
| Histopathology | 836 | 968 | 132 |
| Medical oncology | 110 | 185 | 75 |
| Palliative medicine | 94 | 155 | 61 |
| Radiographers, of which: | |||
| Diagnostic | 10,839 | 11,489 | 650 |
| Therapeutic | 1,491 | 1,542 | 51 |
Source:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
Care Homes
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial support is available to local authorities to
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enable them to create additional nursing and residential home beds for the elderly. [122108]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 30 June 2003]: Most of the financial resources available to local government are unhypothecated and each council must decide, in the light of its priorities and service needs, how much to spend on additional nursing and residential home beds for elderly people. On a like for like basis, funding to local government in England for the provision of personal social services increased by 6.2 per cent. (3.6 per cent. in real terms) in 2002–03 and by 9.1 per cent. (6.3 per cent. in real terms and excluding resource equalisation) in 2003–04.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds were available in care homes in Essex in each of the last five years. [122888]
Dr. Ladyman: The latest available information on the number of care home places in Essex is shown in the table.
| Total number of care home places(37) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As at 31 March | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
| Essex area(38) | 14,840 | 14,960 | 14,730 | 14,200 | 14,230 |
| Essex area excluding unitary councils(39) | n/a | n/a | 12,330 | 11,650 | 11,670 |
(37) Total includes places in residential LA staffed, independent and dual registered homes, and beds in general and mental nursing homes, private hospitals and clinics.
(38) Care home places in nursing homes in North and South Essex Health Authorities and residential homes in Essex Shire County and Southend and Thurrock Unitary Authorities. In 1997 and 1998 Southend and Thurrock Unitary authorities did not exist.
(39) Care home places in nursing homes in North and South Essex Health Authorities and residential homes in Essex Shire County.
Source:
RA Form A and RH(N) forms, Department of Health
Commission for Social Care Inspection
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a person working at the premises will have the right to refuse to be interviewed under Clause 86(1)(c)(i) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill. [122962]
Dr. Ladyman: The provision at clause 86(1)(c)(i) (first print) gives the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) power to interview in private any person working at premises which CSCI is inspecting. Clause 86(5) provides that it would be an offence to obstruct CSCI in the exercise of its functions, and this provision is intended to make clear (mirroring existing provision in the Care Standards Act) that a manager must not prevent any person who consents to being interviewed by CSCI being interviewed. In certain circumstances, which will be set out in detail in regulations to be made under clause 85 of the Bill, CSCI will be able to require prescribed persons to give explanations of prescribed matters to CSCI. Failure without reasonable excuse to do so in these circumstances would be a criminal offence.
Community Health Councils
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the arrangements are for passing on community health council records to their successor bodies. [121238]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 23 June 2003]: Work is underway involving the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health and other bodies to consider what information and knowledge should be transferred from community health councils to the new system of patient and public involvement and how best to do it.
Cystic Fibrosis
Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in making screening services for cystic fibrosis available to all new mothers and pregnant women. [121733]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government have announced their intention to implement a new national programme for neonatal cystic fibrosis screening. The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) has commissioned a programme of work to plan for the national provision of cystic fibrosis screening using the Guthrie Bloodspot Card. The NSC is looking at screening protocols, costs, feasibility, timetables and links to other antenatal programmes.
Dementia/Alzheimer's
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England have (i) dementia and (ii) Alzheimer's disease. [122890]
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Dr. Ladyman: There is no routine collection of information at national or local level about the number of people with dementia generally or Alzheimer's disease in particular. Research evidence about the prevalence of dementia suggests that about 5 per cent. of the total population aged 65 or over, rising to 20 per cent. of the population aged 80 and over, has dementia. Alzheimer's disease causes up to 60 per cent. of cases of dementia.
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support the Government are offering Alzheimer's awareness week. [122892]
Dr. Ladyman: The Government are keen supporters of Alzheimer's Awareness Week. It is essential that awareness of the needs of people with dementia, and of their carers, is raised, to help ensure that those needs are met. The Government have produced an older people's national service framework that outlines the high priority we are giving to improving services for people with dementia.
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