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15 Jul 2003 : Column 226W—continued
Genetically Modified Foods
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the lifting of the EU ban on biotech foods, and the move to replace the ban with rules for clear labelling of all genetically modified products. [124820]
Miss Melanie Johnson: There is no ban in the European Union on foods developed using biotechnology. Measures have been in place for a number of years to permit the placing of such foods on the market subject to rigorous safety assessment procedures and appropriate labelling.
Agreement to further EU measures tightening up the legal requirements for the approval and labelling of genetically modified food and feed and for the traceability of genetically modified organisms is likely to be reached by September.
Hepatitis
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of (a) hepatitis A, (b) hepatitis B and (c) hepatitis C was in each year since 1997. [122448]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Information available on the incidence of hepatitis A and B in England from 1997 to 2002 is shown in the table.
| Hepatitis A | Hepatitis B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1,272 | 621 |
| 1998 | 1,058 | 806 |
| 1999 | 1,355 | 687 |
| 2000 | 1,010 | 652 |
| 2001 | 773 | 526 |
| 2002 | (14)1,326 | (14)738 |
(14) Provisional data
Laboratory reports of antibody to hepatitis C do not distinguish between incident (new), chronic (long-term) and previous resolved infections and most often identify individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection. Therefore, such data cannot be used to estimate the incidence of hepatitis C infection.
Hospices
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the funding arrangements for (a) children's and (b) adult hospices; and if he will make a statement. [122683]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 30 June 2003]: National health service primary care trusts (PCTs) play a pivotal role in funding services for their resident population, including hospice care. Voluntary healthcare providers, such as hospices, are important players and partners in the planning and development of
15 Jul 2003 : Column 227W
these services. They should engage fully with PCTs in discussing the level and type of provision which addresses local needs.
The New Opportunities Fund has allocated £48 million to support over 130 palliative care projects for children. Successful bids have largely been predicated on partnership working between the NHS and service providers. The national service framework for children, which is currently being developed, will set the standards for service providers in this area.
The NHS Cancer Plan pledged to increase NHS investment in adult specialist palliative care, including hospices, by £50 million per year by 2004. Ministers have set up a central budget of £50 million per annum for specialist palliative care for the three years from 2003–04. Funding will be allocated by a joint NHS/voluntary sector national partnership group, which will approve local specialist palliative care plans.
In-patient Survey
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the results of the NHS inpatients survey; what plans he has to make changes in policy as a result of the survey; and if he will make a statement. [124794]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The results of the 2002 patient surveys have been compiled into comprehensive national reports, which have been made available widely within the Department. The Department is using these results to monitor progress in delivering its Public Service Agreement target to,'enhance accountability to patients and the public and secure sustained national improvements in patient experience, as measured by independently validated surveys'.
Mental Health
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on mental health provision in (a) England and (b) Essex in each year since 1990. [124870]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The table shows details of expenditure on Mental Health Services from 1992–93 to 2001–02. Data for 1990–92 is not available.
It is not possible to provide figures by English county, so the table shows total expenditure by health authorities and primary care trusts in England and for health authority areas within Essex.
| Essex health authorities area | England | |
|---|---|---|
| 1992–93 | 54,043 | 2,331,497 |
| 1993–94 | 67,995 | 2,350,548 |
| 1994–95 | 71,537 | 2,371,146 |
| 1995–96 | 79,234 | 2,511,431 |
| 1996–97 | 80,113 | 2,648,191 |
| 1997–98 | 81,352 | 2,767,036 |
| 1998–99 | 89,255 | 2,925,934 |
| 1999–2000 | 111,580 | 3,408,660 |
| 2000–01 | 122,568 | 3,951,618 |
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Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in-patient beds were available for mental health patients in (a) England and (b) Essex in each year since 1980. [124871]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of in-patient beds between 1980 and 2001–02 for England is shown in the table. Information by geographical area is not available.
| Mental illness | |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 87,396 |
| 1981 | 85,436 |
| 1982 | 83,831 |
| 1983 | 81,786 |
| 1984 | 78,911 |
| 1985 | 75,866 |
| 1986 | 72,402 |
| 1987–88 | 67,122 |
| 1988–89 | 63,012 |
| 1989–90 | 59,288 |
| 1990–91 | 55,239 |
| 1991–92 | 50,278 |
| 1992–93 | 47,308 |
| 1993–94 | 43,532 |
| 1994–95 | 41,827 |
| 1995–96 | 39,477 |
| 1996–97 | 37,640 |
| 1997–98 | 36,601 |
| 1998–99 | 35,692 |
| 1999–00 | 34,173 |
| 2000–01 | 34,214 |
| 2001–02 | 32,783 |
Source:
SH3/KH03
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the NHS budget has been spent on mental health care in each year since 1980. [124872]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The table shows how much was spent on mental health care as a percentage of total hospital and community health service expenditure from 1980 to the present.
| Percentage of total HCHS expenditure | |
|---|---|
| 1979–80 | 11.12 |
| 1980–81 | 11.25 |
| 1981–82 | 11.27 |
| 1982–83 | 11.25 |
| 1983–84 | 11.19 |
| 1984–85 | 11.26 |
| 1985–86 | 11.21 |
| 1986–87 | 11.14 |
| 1987–88 | 11.55 |
| 1988–89(15) | 12.40 |
| 1989–90 | 12.24 |
| 1990–91 | 11.98 |
| 1991–92 | 11.49 |
| 1992–93 | 11.47 |
| 1993–94 | 10.90 |
| 1994–95 | 10.59 |
| 1995–96 | 10.55 |
| 1996–97(16) | 12.09 |
| 1997–98 | 12.14 |
| 1998–99 | 11.97 |
| 1999–2000(17) | 12.34 |
| 2000–01 | 12.71 |
(15) Data analysis method changed to show more detailed community health care expenditure.
(16) Data collection method changed to give better analysis of NHS expenditure.
(17) Data collection method changed to include secondary healthcare expenditure from primary care groups and trusts.
15 Jul 2003 : Column 229W
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the proportion of the population of England which will require mental health treatment during their lives. [124874]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Decisions about mental health treatment and care are taken on the basis of an individualised assessment of needs by the responsible clinical team in consultation with the patient, in the light of the evidence base, the resources available, and in the context of national guidance.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for compiling, analysing and disseminating information relating to UK economic, social and demographic statistics. Their report, 'Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households, 2000', is available on the website at www.statistics.gov.uk. Surveys of children's mental health (1999) and the mental health needs amongst people in prison (1997) have also been undertaken by ONS and further information is available from them.
Mr. Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to improve fast track intervention for those suffering from acute mental health problems. [124876]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department has a public service agreement to reduce the duration of untreated psychosis to a service median of less than three months (individual maximum less than six months) and provide support for the first three years for all young people who develop a first episode of psychosis by 2004. This target is being accomplished by the creation of 50 early intervention teams across the country.
There are currently 24 early intervention teams in England which provide quick diagnosis of the first onset of a psychotic disorder and appropriate treatment including intensive support in the early years for people aged between 14 and 35.
Also, NHS Direct's call handling capacity will more than double to 16 million calls annually by 2006, backed by a funding increase to £182 million. Improved 24-hour access to clinical advice by telephone from home will cut the burden on general practitioners and the emergency services, including for people with mental health problems, who can obtain rapid advice from trained nurses.
As part of the mental health modernisation agenda, steps are being taken to increase capacity in both community and hospital based provision that will help provide quicker and more convenient services. Establishing crisis resolution services and more hospital beds as well as improving access to child and adolescent mental health services by 10 per cent. each year across the service according to agreed local priorities are among these steps.
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Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of unmet need with respect to child and adolescent mental health services, broken down by (a) region and (b) strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement. [124921]
Dr. Ladyman: The information on which to base such an assessment is not collected centrally. Needs assessment is the responsibility of local agencies as part of their service planning activity. Systematic mapping of local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) provision across England was launched last year and it is intended to repeat this annually. This will provide detailed information on service provision, service activity levels and expenditure on CAMHS by provider trust and by local authority and primary care trust commissioners. Data currently available can be found on the dedicated website at www.dur.ac.uk/service.mapping/CAMH/.
The Government's strategy for the development of CAMHS, initiated in 1999, has made significant progress in improving the overall quality and accessibility of local services for children and young people with mental health problems. Our current central investment programme of £250 million over the coming three years aims to help secure comprehensive CAMHS in all areas by 2006, in line with the objectives contained in "Improvement, Expansion, Reform the Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–06" published by the Department in October 2002.
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