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17 Jul 2003 : Column 631W—continued
Cancer Treatment
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on improving information given to patients following diagnosis of cancer with respect to (a) prognosis, (b) probability of the cancer spreading, (c) treatment options and (d) the genetic implications for other family members. [125027]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Cancer Plan, published in September 2000, acknowledged the importance of ensuring patients have access to appropriate information at each stage of the care pathway and made a commitment to improving the content and availability of patient information.
Since the publication of the Cancer Plan, we have set up the Coalition for Cancer Information as a result of a recommendation from the Cancer Information Advisory Group. The Coalition, which includes members from key voluntary sector and national health service organisations, is now working to ensure that high quality information is delivered to patients and carers which is appropriate to their particular needs and will enable them to make informed decisions at: each stage.
In addition, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently preparing guidance for the NHS on supportive and palliative care. The draft guidance includes a chapter on information and recommends that all provider organisations should have a range of different information materials which is accessible and free at the point of delivery and that patients should be offered help to understand the materials they are given. The draft guidance is now out for consultation and can be found on the NICE website at www.nice.orq.uk. The final guidance is expected to be published early next year.
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Cardiology Services
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times have been in each of the last six years for cardiology appointments; and if he will make a statement. [126006]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The average waiting times for cardiology appointments in each of the last six years is shown in the table.
| Average waiting times (weeks) | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 6.77 |
| 1998–99 | 7.43 |
| 1999–2000 | 7.95 |
| 2000–01 | 8.15 |
| 2001–02 | 6.83 |
| 2002–03 | 6.34 |
At Quarter 4 of 2002–03, 81 per cent. of patients were seen within two weeks of referral by their general practitioner or other clinician.
Chemicals
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact on human health of textile and leather finishing treatments; what advice has been given to the public relating to their use; and if he will make a statement. [119084]
Mr. Browne: I have been asked to reply.
No assessment has been made for such treatments.
In the case of finishing treatments used in workplaces, there are duties placed on employers to carry out assessments of any hazardous substances that may be present in such treatments and to put in place appropriate workplace control measures. HSE has issued a series of information sheets on controlling the hazards from dyes and chemicals in textiles finishing, which includes guidance on the particular risks to employees from reactive dyes and spotting solvents. Copies have been placed in the Library and are available at www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/dvestuffs.htm
Some of the chemicals that may be used in such treatments have been assessed, or are currently undergoing assessment under the EU Existing Substances Regulation (ESR) or within the OECD Existing Chemicals programme. Risk assessment that have been agreed by all EU member states have been placed in the Library and are made publicly available on the internet, via the website of the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) at http://ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/
Child Obesity
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relationship between rates of obesity in children and levels of physical activity. [122389]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The effective prevention and management of obesity requires an integrated, cross-government approach, working with a range of partners on programmes to improve diet and increase physical activity levels.
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In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the proportion of obese children aged six to 15 years rose by 3.5 per cent. Over the same period physical activity levels have fallen due to a combination of factors and four in ten boys and six in 10 girls are not meeting the recommended hour a day of physical activity for children.
Lower levels of activity in daily life are likely to have contributed to the rise in obesity. Physical activity levels in developed countries appear to have fallen due to a combination of factors—including greater use of cars for short journeys, lower sports participation, and greater access to television and computers and other sedentary activities.
To ensure that there is a co-ordinated and strategic approach to the planning and delivery of sport and physical activity across a diverse range of sectors—such as transport, countryside management and town planning—a sport and physical activity board (SPAB) has been established. The Board is to be jointly led by the Department of Health and Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
Another key project in our programme of work are the local exercise action pilots (LEAP) which we jointly fund with Sport England and the Countryside Agency. LEAP will test the effectiveness of primary care trust led interventions to increase access and levels of physical activity in communities based in Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. Activities range from walking, cycling and swimming, to clinical-based programmes that are focusing on diabetes and weight management.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken in Shrewsbury and Atcham to reduce obesity in children in Shrewsbury and Atcham. [126639]
Dr. Ladyman: The Government are committed to tackling the rising trend in childhood obesity. The prevention and management of obesity are at the heart of many of the Government's priority areas, as highlighted in the NHS Plan and national service frameworks (NSF) particularly those outlining action on coronary heart disease and diabetes. The forth coming NSF for children will address the health and social care needs of all children and will include the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity. A two pronged approach is being taken, addressing both overweight and obesity prevention and management at national, regional and local level.
Shropshire County Primary Care Trust is involved in a number of initiatives. These include:
Clinical Devices (Bacteraemia)
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the classes of clinical device which are most closely linked with bacteraemia. [126002]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Voluntary surveillance data 1 show that almost two-thirds of bacteraemias of known origin were associated with an intravascular device or device-related infections, such as a catheter associated urinary tract infection.
Central intravenous catheters were the commonest associated source of hospital acquired bacteraemia.
Surveillance of hospital acquired bacteraemia in English hospitals. 1997–2002.
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of catheter associated urinary tract infection in each of the last three years. [126005]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Data on the cost to the national health service of catheter associated urinary tract infections are not collected centrally.
However, a research study 1 carried out in one hospital in the 1990s estimated that the cost of a hospital acquired urinary tract infection was, on average, equivalent to an additional £1,327 per patient during the stay in hospital.
1 R. Plowman, N. Graves, M. Griffin, J. A. Roberts, A. V. Swan, B. Cookson, L. Taylor. The socio-economic burden of hospital acquired infection. Public Health Laboratory Service 1999.
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