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16 Jul 2003 : Column 412W—continued
Endometriosis
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of endometriosis was in the Thames Valley Health Authority in the last year for which figures are available. [124908]
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Ms Rosie Winterton: The incidence of endometriosis for 2001–02, the last year for which figures are available, for the Thames Valley Health Authority is shown in the table.
| Health authorityof treatment | Description | Total episodes |
|---|---|---|
| QA7 | Berkshire HA | 161 |
| QA8 | Buckinghamshire HA | 211 |
| QCE | Oxfordshire HA | 168 |
| Total | Thames Valley (39) | 540 |
(39) Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority was created in April 2002 by the merger of the three HAs quoted above.
Notes:
1. Admissions are defined as the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
2. Figures have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data is ungrossed).
3. The primary diagnosis is the first of seven diagnosis fields in the HES data set, and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health, England.
Epilepsy
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of misdiagnoses of epilepsy in England over the last three years. [125010]
Dr. Ladyman: We have not made an estimate of the number or proportion of people misdiagnosed with epilepsy in England over the last three years. However, recent reports from the Clinical Standards Advisory Group—"Services for Patients with Epilepsy" (2000) and the Chief Medical Officer—"On the State of the Public Health" (2001) showed that around 20 per cent. of people receiving inappropriate and unnecessary treatment. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is developing a clinical guideline for the diagnosis, management and treatment of epilepsy, which is due in June 2004 and which will help address any shortfalls in current practice.
Food Safety
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Food Standards Agency's strategy for ensuring food safety through the testing of food samples at public analyst laboratories; [123609]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the numbers of (a) tests of food samples and (b) public analyst laboratories. [123610]
Miss Melanie Johnson: It is the responsibility of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to monitor the food sampling carried out under the Food Safety Act 1990 by local authorities. I am aware that the FSA has raised its concerns about the general decline in food sampling and the wide variation in sampling levels between
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authorities. Given the importance of food sampling and analyses as part of a local authority food law enforcement service, I am pleased to note that the FSA is taking forward a number of initiatives in close liaison with local authorities and the Association of Public Analysts to address these concerns and to ensure that food sampling contributes effectively to consumer protection. Initiatives include:
- Working with Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services and the Association of Public Analysts to develop better coordination and targeting of UK food sampling activity;
Auditing local authorities with low levels of sampling activity and requiring remedial action plans;
A specific audit programme focused on sampling arrangements including visits to Public Analyst and Health Protection Agency laboratories to help identify key actions necessary to address sampling activity;
Developing a UK Samples Database to help local authorities and the Agency target sampling programmes effectively; and
New guidance on food sampling for local authority enforcement officers.
A paper on food sampling was discussed by the FSA Board at an open meeting on 10 July 2003 at Kensington Town Hall.
Food Supplements
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the implications of the Food Supplements Directive for the availability of food supplements. [123617]
Miss Melanie Johnson: It is not yet possible to determine the true impact of the Directive on the future continued availability of products currently on the United Kingdom market, which will depend on future developments on maximum limits and lists of permitted nutrients and nutrient sources. The Government recognise that some products will be lost from the UK market from 1 August 2005 because of restrictions on nutrient sources which will apply from that date.
Article 5 of Directive 2002/46/EC on Food Supplements sets out principles for setting European Union maximum limits for vitamins and minerals in food supplements, although no specific figures have yet been set. Discussion on maximum limits at EU level will follow publication of advice from the European Food Safety Authority. We do not expect the European Commission to issue its proposal on maximum limits before the end of this year.
Foundation Hospitals
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what way foundation hospitals in England will be accountable to their patients from Wales. [123848]
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Mr. Hutton [holding answer 7 July 2003]: Subject to meeting minimum legislative requirements, as set out in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill, national health service foundation trusts will have flexibility to ensure local accountability. A NHS foundation trust would be able to define its membership community to include patients in Wales and would have the flexibility to provide a place on the Board of Governors for Welsh commissioners if that was appropriate.
General Practitioners
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners there are per head of population in England. [126069]
Mr. Hutton: The number of all general medical practitioners, all practitioners per head of population and all practitioners per 100,000 population in England as at 30 September 2002 is shown in the table.
| England | Numbers (headcount) |
|---|---|
| All Practitioners(40) | 32,292 |
| All Practitioners per head of population | 0.0007 |
| All Practitioners per100,000 population | 65.4 |
(40) All Practitioners includes CMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs, PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (para 52 SFA), PMS Other and GP Retainers.
Source:
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Government Actuary's Department (GAD) 2001 based resident population projections for mid year 2002.
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for general practitioners there are in the London borough of Wandsworth. [126179]
Mr. Hutton: There are 6.5 general practitioner vacancies in Wandsworth.
Homeless People
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of homeless people are registered with general practitioners. [125852]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 15 July 2003]: This information is not held or collected centrally—data on the number of homeless people do not include information on how many are registered with a general practitioner and general practice registration data do not identify those who are homeless.
Infant Infection
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about measures being taken to reduce the risk of babies being infected by Group B streptococcus; and if he will make a statement. [123057]
Dr. Ladyman: The UK National Screening Committee (NSC) makes recommendations to Ministers on all aspects of screening programmes. The
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NSC has advised that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that routine screening of all pregnant women in the United Kingdom and treating those carrying Group B Streptococcus with intravenous antibiotics during labour would be beneficial. The NSC has however commissioned an assessment of the existing evidence on screening against the criteria used to assess potential screening programmes. At the adjournment debate on this issue on 9 July 2003, Ministers asked the NSC to review the position thoroughly as quickly as possible and to consider recommendations at its meeting in December 2003.
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