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8 Sept 2003 : Column 265W—continued

Standing Medical Advisory Committee

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the membership is of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee; and if he will make a statement. [127202]

Mr. Hutton: The current membership, at 18 July 2003, of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee (SMAC) is:






























Information about SMAC can be found on the Department of Health website at http://www.doh. gov.uk/smac/index.htm.

Stolen NHS Property

Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value is of NHS property stolen from NHS premises during each of the previous five accounting years and so far during this accounting year. [127160]

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Mr. Hutton: Historically, there has been no routine collection of this kind of information. Individual health bodies are required to keep registers of losses, which are retained locally.

The Counter Fraud and Security Management Service, launched on 1 April 2003 is currently reviewing the management of security within the national health service.

Stroke Units

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many hospitals have a specialist stroke unit; and what percentage of hospitals this represents; [127704]

Dr. Ladyman: The most comprehensive source of information is the National Sentinel Stroke Audit, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. The audit was commissioned by the national health service in 1998 and was last updated in 2002. The results can be found at http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/strokeaudit01–02.pdf. The 2002 audit shows that 73 per cent. of trusts who participated had a stroke unit compared to 56 per cent. three years earlier. The audit shows that 80 per cent. of trusts that participated have a consultant physician with specialist knowledge of stroke who is formally recognised as having principal responsibility for stroke services. While it is recognised that some services need to increase their capacity, the audit notes that very significant improvements have already been made.

Our major vehicle for further improving standards for stroke services is through the older people's national service framework (NSF) which sets specific milestones for improvement by 2004 of stroke services in primary care trusts, specialist services and general hospitals that care for people suffering from a stroke. Our document, "Improvement, Expansion and Reform", which sets for the NHS a Priorities and Planning Framework for 2003–06, makes clear that implementation of the older people's NSF is a top priority, and that the 2004 milestone around specialist stroke services is a key target.

We monitor progress against the key milestones in the NSF. From the information gathered so far we know that 83 per cent. of the hospitals who have replied, now have plans to have a specialist stroke service in place by April 2004.

Implementation of the NSF for older people is leading to real improvements in stroke services and making a difference to people's lives. The development of better services and improved standards in stroke care requires the right balance between national standards, provided by the NSF, national clinical guidelines and local control. It will be important to ensure that stroke care services are co-ordinated and fully integrated within a full range of other relevant local services.

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stroke units there are in the NHS; and where they are. [127327]

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Dr. Ladyman: We do not routinely collect the information requested. The most comprehensive source of information is the National Sentinel Stroke Audit, carried out by the Royal College of Physicians. The audit was commissioned by the National Health Service in 1998 and was last updated in 2002. The results can be found at http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/pubs/strokeaudit01–02.pdf. The 2002 audit shows that 73 per cent. of trusts who participated had a stroke unit compared to 56 per cent. three years earlier. The audit shows that 80 per cent. of trusts that participated have a consultant physician with specialist knowledge of stroke who is formally recognised as having principal responsibility for stroke services. While it is recognised that some services need to increase their capacity, the audit notes that very significant improvements have already been made.

Our major vehicle for further improving standards for stroke services is through the older people's national service framework (NSF) which sets specific milestones for improvement by 2004 of stroke services in primary care trusts, specialist services and general hospitals that care for people suffering from a stroke. Our document, Improvement, Expansion and Reform, which sets for the National Health Service a Priorities and Planning Framework for 2003–6, makes clear that implementation of the older people's NSF is a top priority, and that the 2004 milestone around specialist stroke services is a key target.

We monitor progress against the key milestones in the NSF. From the information gathered so far we know that 83 per cent. of the hospitals who have replied, now have plans to have a specialist stroke service in place by April 2004.

Sugar

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to restrict the amount of sugar in foods manufactured primarily for children. [127716]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The NHS Plan and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) nutrition action plan identify Government commitment to working with the food industry to improve the overall balance of the diet. This includes aspects of food content relating to salt, fat and sugar.

The FSA and the Department are in discussions with industry on reducing salt in foods. Work on sugars and fat will follow subsequently.

Suicide

Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in meeting the "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" target on suicide reduction. [127366]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" target is to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a fifth by the year 20010, from a baseline of 9.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 1995–97 to 7.4 deaths per 1,000,000 population in 2009–11.

8 Sept 2003 : Column 268W

The suicide rate for the single year 2001, the most recent available, was the lowest recorded. The European Age Standardised Rate in 2001 was 8.9 per 100,000 population, a decrease of 5 per cent. on 2000 which was 9.3. There was also a fall in mental health in-patient suicide in 2001.

As the only full-year figures we have since the publication of the "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" strategy are for 2000 and 2001, it is still too early to assess progress in meeting this target. Current trends do not as yet provide a robust indication of the effect of the strategy. If the trend of the last three years continues, then the target will be met, however this is much too short a period from which to extrapolate a robust trend.

Sun Creams

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures were taken in the last 12 months to promote the use of sun protection creams over the 2003 summer. [127474]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The United Kingdom Health Departments have funded the SunSmart sun awareness campaign run by Cancer Research UK. One of the key messages of the campaign's health promotion materials (leaflets, posters and factcards) is "to use a factor 15+ sunscreen". The campaign and its materials have been widely publicised in both national and local media.

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