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1 Sept 2003 : Column 938W—continued
Human Tissue Act
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce legislation following the Government's review of the Human Tissue Act 1961. [127023]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government are committed to the introduction of new legislation on the retention and use of human organs and tissue following publication last year of the consultative report 'Human Bodies, Human Choices'. Legislation will be brought forward as soon as parliamentary time is available.
Independent Complaints Advocacy Service
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the key stages were in the commissioning of the independent complaints advocacy service due to commence on 1 September; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date for completion of each stage was. [125807]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Standard Department of Health Procurement Procedures for a Category B—Residual Service (OJEC/OJEU exempt) were used to ensure a robust process. The key stages were:
- 1. the request for expressions of interest;
2. issuing the invitations to tender;
3. the evaluation of tenders and selection of preferred providers; and
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- 1. 23 and 28 March;
2. 13 and 14 May;
3. 18 and 30 June; and
4. 7 July and 9 July.
Ms Rosie Winterton: Feedback from the independent complaints advocacy service (ICAS) pilots has been collected in two ways. Statistical data were collected from the ICAS pilots on a quarterly basis and the information received from the second quarter provided information for tenderers of the new service on volumes of caseload broken down into levels of complexity of complaints. Qualitative analysis of regular ICAS pilots' reports and regional meetings of ICAS pilots informed the tender requirements by raising issues such as working to consistent national standards and the need for arrangements with specialist providers for complex casework. A final evaluation of the pilots is now under way and will build on feedback on issues such as relationships with national health service complaints and patient advocacy liaison services departments, as well as best ways for working with vulnerable groups. A final report will be published in October 2003 and will inform on-going service provision by the new ICAS providers as well as the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health with its role of monitoring the ICAS service.
International Nurse Mobility
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action the Government will take to address the findings of the study International Nurse Mobility: Trends and Policy Implications on England's reliance on nurses from overseas; [127012]
- (2) if he will make a statement on the findings of the study International Nurse Mobility: Trends and Policy Implications published jointly by the World Health Organisation, the International Council of Nurses, and the Royal College of Nursing, UK on 28 June. [127013]
Mr. Hutton: As concluded in the study's findings, international recruitment is a short-term measure in helping alleviate the current workforce pressures in the national health service. Work continues in increasing the number of training places and encouraging healthcare professionals to return to the national health service through our "Improving Working Lives" initiatives and is proving to be successful.
The Department of Health is actively discouraging the NHS from recruiting healthcare workers from developing countries. We are unable to stop the movement of individuals wanting to work in the NHS. The code of practice produced for NHS employers discourages the NHS from actively recruiting from overseas and recent Nursing and Midwifery Council figures have indicated a levelling out of entrants from developing countries.
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Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he will take to address the point made in International Nurse Mobility: Trends and Policy Implications on England's development and retention of its own nurses; and if he will make a statement; [127014]
- (2) what efforts the Government is making to diminish England's reliance on nurses from overseas, with particular reference to developing countries. [127015]
Mr. Hutton: The Government are committed to developing nurses in England through their national nursing strategy, 'Making a Difference'. A comprehensive programme of national and local action has been taking place. This will expand the workforce, strengthen education and training, provide a modern career framework and decent pay, improve the working and employment conditions of nurses, and develop their leadership skills and equip and empower them to take on new, expanded and more satisfying roles.
Accreditation to the Improving Working Lives (IWL) Standard is also creating well-managed, flexible working environments that support all staff and promotes their welfare and development, in and out of the work place. IWL sets a model of good human resource (HR) practice against which national health service employers and their staff can measure the organisation's HR management and against which all NHS employers are currently being kite-marked. It is also an integral part of the HR performance management process.
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to make his Department's ethical guidelines in international nurse recruitment mandatory for all employers in (a) the NHS and (b) the independent sector. [127016]
Mr. Hutton: National health service employers involved in international recruitment are strongly commended to adhere to the code of practice.
We are currently in the process of strengthening the code of practice in consultation with our solicitors.
The Independent Healthcare Association has worked with the Department to produce a document "Guide for the Provision of Adaptation for Nurses in the in the Independent and National Health Service Sectors", which has been circulated across the public and private healthcare sectors.
Learning Disability Services
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total net expenditure of (a) learning disability social services and (b) social services in England was in each year since 1997–98 at 2001–02 prices; and what the total net expenditure of learning disability services was as a percentage of the total social services budget in those years. [126926]
Dr. Ladyman: The table shows the net expenditure by councils in England on personal social services for adults aged under 65 with learning disabilities, and their total net expenditure on personal social services, in cash and at 2001–02 prices, for the period 1997–98 to 2001–02. The table also shows, for the same period, the total budget for personal social services and the
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percentage the net cash expenditure on services for adults under 65 with learning disabilities was of the total budget.
| Cash terms | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Personal social services net expenditure on adults under 65 with learning disabilities | Total personal social services net expenditure | Total personal social services budget | Percentage of budget spent on services for adults over 65 with learning disabilities |
| 1997–98 | 1,132 | 8,454 | 7,923 | 14.3 |
| 1998–99 | 1,242 | 9,059 | 8,911 | 13.9 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,365 | 10,050 | 9,645 | 14.1 |
| 2000–01 | 1,465 | 10,696 | 10,254 | 14.3 |
| 2001–02 | 1,585 | 11,369 | 11,048 | 14.3 |
| 2001–02 prices(80) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Personal social services net expenditure on adults under 65 with learning disabilities | Total personal social services net expenditure | |
| 1997–98 | 1,249 | 9,323 |
| 1998–99 | 1,333 | 9,722 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,430 | 10,532 |
| 2000–01 | 1,502 | 10,959 |
| 2001–02 | 1,585 | 11,369 |
(80) Figures at 2001–02 prices have been calculated using GDP deflators.
Sources:
Expenditure, Form PSS EX1 (form RO3 prior to 2000–01)
Budgets:
ODPM RA forms
Maternity Services
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many midwives who completed training in each year since 1999 subsequently took up a post in midwifery in the NHS; [126995]
- (2) how many midwives (a) were in training and (b) completed training in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [126996]
Mr. Hutton: Information on the number of midwives entering training each year since 1998–99 is shown in the table. Information on the number of midwives completing training and taking up posts in the national health service each year is not collected centrally.
Since 1998–99 there has been an increase of 371, or 21 per cent., midwives entering training each year. In the same period, the number of midwives employed in the NHS has increased by 410 to 23,249.
| 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,751 | 1,772 | 1,887 | 1,878 | 2,122 |
| Diploma | 597 | 620 | 604 | 525 | 724 |
| Degree | 255 | 395 | 494 | 621 | 721 |
| Other | 899 | 757 | 789 | 732 | 677 |
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes an annual statistical report which includes information about the number of midwives registering
1 Sept 2003 : Column 942W
each year, a requirement for employment in the NHS. This data can be found on the NMC website at www.nmc-uk.org.uk.
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the maternity and neonatal workforces group. [123475]
Dr. Ladyman: The report of the Maternity and Neonatal Workforce Group was published on the Department of Health website in January 2003. The report's findings have been fed into the work of the children's national service framework.
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