| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
7 Jul 2003 : Column 665W—continued
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the medical profession concerning the possible benefits of the use of biologic drugs Etanercept and infliximab as an early treatment to halt the development of rheumatoid arthritis. [124266]
Dr. Ladyman: We are not aware of having received any representations from the medical profession on this subject. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence reported on these drugs in 2002, so we would expect that any representations would have been received them. There has, however, been correspondence from right hon. and hon. Members and the public, as well as several Parliamentary Questions, on anti-TNF therapy.
7 Jul 2003 : Column 666W
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on the (a) use of biologic drugs Etanercept and infliximab as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and (b) disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, including methotrexate in each of the last five years. [124267]
Dr. Ladyman: The use of these groups of drugs (all fall within BNF 10.1.3, Rheumatic Disease Suppressant drugs) in the community is negligible. They are used extensively in hospitals. We do not hold information centrally about expenditure on drugs prescribed and dispensed in hospitals.
Schizophrenia
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of schizophrenics had access to cognitive behavioural therapy in the last year for which figures are available. [122405]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Information on the percentage of schizophrenics with access to cognitive behavioural therapy is not collected centrally.
Staffing
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what difficulties in (a) recruitment and (b) staff retention were recorded in each NHS trust in England in the latest year for which statistics are available, broken down by (i) speciality, (ii) area of work and (iii) the skills and qualifications required. [119772]
Mr. Hutton: The Department of Health collects a three month vacancy survey that offers statistics broken down by speciality and area of work and which measures the recruitment and retention position in each NHS Trust. The results of the vacancy survey for March 2002 are available in the Library. Results for March 2003 are expected to be available in July 2003.
Urology
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce the trusts which have been successful in applying for Action On Funding for urology patients. [122415]
Mr. Hutton: The Action On Urology pilot sites were announced on 9 May 2003. Each pilot site will receive £94,000 to fund projects over 18 months.
Details of the pilot sites and copies of the press notices are available at www.modern.nhs.uk/action-on, and have been placed in the Library.
Waiting Times
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) targets he has set and (b) guidance he has issued relating to the treatment of patients who have had their operation cancelled more than once. [121751]
Mr. Hutton: Since 1 April 2002, as part of the NHS Plan cancelled operations guarantee, if a patient has their operation cancelled by the hospital on the day of surgery for non-clinical reasons, the hospital will have to
7 Jul 2003 : Column 667W
offer another binding date within a maximum of the next 28 days or fund the patient's treatment at the time and hospital of the patient's choice. From 1 April 2003, the guarantee has been extended to cover patients cancelled by the hospital for non-clinical reasons at the last minute, for example, on the day of admission to hospital.
National health service trusts are also required to treat patients who have had their operation cancelled within maximum waiting times for inpatient treatment. There are no specific guidelines on how to treat patients whose operation has been cancelled more than once. General guidance on utilising operating theatres more effectively and managing cancelled operations has been provided through the Modernisation Agency's operating theatre and pre-operative assessment
7 Jul 2003 : Column 668W
programmes. This guidance is entitled "Tackling Cancelled Operations and Step Guide to Improving Operating Theatre Performance" and can be found at www.modern.nhs.uk/theatreprogramme.
Working Time Directive
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the European Working Time Directive on junior doctors. [120581]
Mr. Hutton: The Department has issued guidance to the national health service—HSC 2003/001 'Protecting Staff, Delivering Services—implementing the European Working Time Directive for Doctors in Training' and is funding a series of implementation workshops. A copy has been placed in the Library.