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6 Oct 2003 : Column 1271W—continued
Catheter-associated Infection
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the impact on the NHS of catheter-associated infection in relation to vancomycin resistant enterocci. [130619]
Miss Melanie Johnson: This information is not available centrally.
Voluntary surveillance data 1 show that almost two-thirds of blood stream infections of known origin were associated with an intravascular device or device-related infections, such as a catheter associated urinary tract infection.
The second phase of the mandatory surveillance scheme for healthcare associated infection was recently introduced. From 1 September 2003, trusts will report blood stream infections due to glycopeptide resistant enterococci (including vancomycin resistant enterocci) and serious untoward incidents associated with infection.
- 1 Public Health Laboratory Service. Nosocomial Infection National Surveillance Service. Surveillance of hospital acquired bacteraemia in English hospitals. 1997–2002.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the NHS has issued to ensure that clinicians are fully informed in how to deal with patients presenting with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. [130713]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 16 September 2003]: We have issued no guidance to the National Health Service on the treatment of patients with cronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME).
We are, however, taking steps to improve services for patients with this condition. On 12 May, we announced funding of £8.5 million that will be used to develop services for people with CFS/ME. In July, health organisations were invited to bid for development funds to set up centres of expertise to develop clinical care, support clinical research and expand education and training programmes for health care professionals
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and to establish satellite community multidisciplinary teams. The first phase of development will start in April 2004.
Chronic Pain
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to public funds of (a) treatment, (b) sickness absence and (c) lost production relating to chronic pain in England. [131200]
Mr. Hutton: The Department has not estimated the cost to public funds of treatment, absence, or lost productivity because of chronic pain and has no plans to carry out such a study.
Clatterbridge Hospital
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on proton therapy facilities at Clatterbridge Hospital. [131230]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology (CCO) currently has access to the Douglas Cyclotron Facility, which produces protons of 62MeV. This particular piece of equipment was developed by the Medical Research Council in 1984 to undertake studies into neutron therapy but was later modified in association with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund to provide proton therapy of eye tumours.
The CCO became responsible for this facility in 1991. It provides ocular oncology services in association with four national referring centres, the main one of which is the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, in addition to centres in London, Glasgow and Sheffield.
Consultancies
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultancies were commissioned by his Department in the last two years for which figures are available; and what the cost of those contracts was. [130893]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department does not hold centrally a record of individual contracts. However, our financial records show the following figures as the payments made to consultancies for the last two complete financial years.
| Financial year | £ million |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 6.53 |
| 2001–02 | 6.8 |
Contact Lenses
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he is taking to warn children of the dangers associated with swapping contact lenses; [128137]
- (2) what assessment he has made of the General Optical Council proposals to restrict sale of contact lenses to registered opticians and doctors; [128138]
(3) what action he is taking to encourage contact lens users to seek proper advice before purchase and to attend regular check-ups thereafter; [128139]
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(4) what action he is taking to (a) encourage and (b) compel organisations that sell non-prescription contact lenses to (i) advise purchasers of their suitability for lenses and (ii) provide them with adequate information on care and hygiene; [128140]
(5) what assessment he has made of the link between (a) microbial keratitis, (b) acanthamoeba, (c) poor colour perception, (d) reduced binocular vision and (e) damage to the surface of the cornea and the use of non-prescription contact lenses; [128148]
(6) what action he is taking to ensure that the sale of non-prescription contact lenses is effectively monitored; [128151]
(7) what assessment he has made of the long-term effects on eye health of using non-prescription contact lenses; [128152]
(8) what plans he has to reclassify contact lenses as medical devices. [128153]
Ms Rosie Winterton: We plan to regulate the sale of non-prescription cosmetic contact lenses to ensure that outlets selling them have professional optical supervisory arrangements to ensure that advice is available to purchasers, whether adults or children, on use of these lenses. A public consultation is due to take place this year as part of the parliamentary process. Detailed rules for the professional optical supervisory arrangements will be developed to implement the regulations.
Although the Department has made no specific assessment of the links between certain eye conditions and the use of non-prescription contact lenses, it is widely recognised that prescription contact lens wearers are more at risk of eye infections if they over-wear their lenses, adopt poor hygiene or smoke. It is reasonable to assume that similar risks apply to people wearing non-prescription lenses and that the lack of professionally supervised advice may put them at greater risk.
For prescription contact lenses, the Contact Lens Rules 1988 require that they be provided by General Optical Council registered opticians who also provide the necessary instruction and information to the person fitted on the care, wearing, treatment, cleaning and maintenance of such lenses and also provide the clinical management and adjustment of the fitting of the lenses for a period of six months from the date of first fitting.
Powered contact lenses are classified as medical devices but plano lenses have no corrective function or medical purpose and are not considered to be a medical device. There are no plans to reclassify them as such.
Coronary Disease
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to research possible links between malfunctioning LOX-1 genes and cardiac arrest. [130060]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Medical Research Council (MRC) supports a range of research into cardiac arrest including ways of targeting genes in vascular disease, but does not have any projects targeting LOX-1 at the present time. The MRC always
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welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.
The Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are investing around £15 million to support the development of five genetics knowledge parks over five years. The knowledge parks will carry out research into the genetic components of major diseases, including cardiovascular disease.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the Government have undertaken into the link between tooth loss and subclinical atherosclerosis. [130108]
Miss Melanie Johnson: To date, the Government have not commissioned any research into the links between tooth loss and subclinical atherosclerosis, although we are aware of some recent research on this topic.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what health advice his Department has issued for people at risk of coronary heart disease. [130109]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department attaches great importance to preventing coronary heart disease.
The priorities and planning framework for 2003–06 includes targets for reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease. One of these requires practice-based registers for patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes, with systematic treatment regimes, including advice on diet physical activity and smoking. This covers the majority of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index greater than 30.
Programmes are also in place to tackle the risk factors for coronary heart disease in the general population. These take a life-course approach and focus on improvements to diet and nutrition, reducing excess weight and obesity, increasing physical activity and reducing the prevalence of smoking.
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