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14 Oct 2003 : Column 62W—continued
G10 Medicines
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has made to the European Commission in response to the G10 Medicines (High Level Group on Innovation and the Provision of Medicines) report. [128737]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The G10 Report, presented to President Prodi in May 2002, was produced by a group of European Ministers and leading figures from the pharmaceutical industry, patients' representatives, and European social insurance institutions. The United Kingdom played a key role, being represented by my noble Friend the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health. The European Commission has now produced a Communication to the Council, the European Parliament, and other Institutions (COM 2003/383) This document is available in the Library with an Explanatory Memorandum from the Department of Health.
These matters are being discussed in both the Health and Competitiveness Councils. My noble Friend Lord Warner, is a member of the G10, working towards the achievement of our policy objectives in relation to the pharmaceutical sector.
Health Care (Buckinghamshire)
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) private and (b) NHS dental practices there were in (i) Chesham and Amersham and (ii) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1 January 1996. [130598]
Ms Rosie Winterton: No information is available on the number of wholly private dental practices. The Office of Fair Trading report, 'The private dentistry market in the UK', states that about 210 practices in the United Kingdom are totally private.
The table gives the available information for the number of general dental service (GDS) practices and dentists there were in the old Buckinghamshire Health Authority (HA) area for the years 1996 to 2002 and in the relevant primary care trusts (PCTs) in 2002 and 2003. PCTs took over responsibility from HAs in October 2003.
These figures exclude dentists working in other national health service dental services, ie., community and personal dental services, hospital dental services and also salaried general dental practitioners and dentists doing no NHS work.
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| Buckinghamshire HA | Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire PCT | Milton KeynesPCT | Vale of Aylesbury PCT | WycombePCT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 31 August | |||||
| 1996 | 118 | — | — | — | — |
| 1997 | 118 | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | 122 | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | 121 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 121 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | 125 | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | 125 | — | — | — | — |
| At 30 October | |||||
| 2002 | — | 38 | 35 | 29 | 29 |
| At 31 August | |||||
| 2003 | — | 38 | 36 | 30 | 29 |
Source:Dental Practice Board
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reduce waiting lists in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire. [130603]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The national health service is working to reduce waiting times so that, by the end of March 2004, the maximum waiting time for inpatient treatment will be cut to nine months and the maximum waiting time for an outpatient appointment will be cut to 17 weeks.
Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust has recently initiated a series of agreed actions to reduce waiting times, including telephone validation of waiting lists, private patient initiatives and active re-organisation of waiting lists.
Future initiatives to further reduce waiting times include schemes to:
- Increase the number of patients who have their operative procedure carried out as a daycase.
Explore the role of specialist nurses and allied health professionals as alternatives to traditional consultant-led outpatients appointments.
Introduce measures to improve health and avoid complications, for example, investment in wound care management.
Health Care (Buckinghamshire)
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have moved to private practice from the NHS in (a) Chesham and Amersham and (b) Buckinghamshire in each year since 1 January 1996; and if he will make a statement. [130596]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected centrally although the number of dentists engaged solely in private practice is small. The Department's figures indicate that only around 2 per cent. of dentists do only private practice.
Health Protection Agency
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what new appropriations have been authorised to fund the Health Protection Agency. [128667]
Miss Melanie Johnson: As stated in the consultation document in summer 2002, the creation of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) was cost neutral in terms of
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public expenditure. Departmental funds allocated to the HPA were drawn largely from those sums previously allocated to its predecessor bodies and organisations.
Hospital Admissions
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of hospital admissions was in (a) 1982, (b) 1992 and (c) 2002. [130000]
Mr. Hutton: The average cost of admissions is shown in the table.
| Year | Average cost of a hospital admission (£) |
|---|---|
| 2001–2002 | 1,544 |
| 1991–1992 | 1,278 |
| 1981–1982 | (15)— |
(15) Not available
Hospital Bed Costs
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the capital cost is to the NHS of a new hospital bed. [128929]
Dr. Ladyman: An indicative cost of creating a new-build hospital bed is approximately £380,000, excluding value added tax, which reflects the current business case approval level. The cost includes the capital construction cost, equipment costs and professional fees incurred, as well as a proportion of the costs of the supporting services within the new hospital, such as operating theatres, out-patient departments, accident and emergency services, catering, office accommodation, public areas, pharmacy, pathology and radiology. It does not include the running costs to make the bed operational, such as staffing, linen or cleaning.
Figures for providing a new bed in an existing hospital or under a private finance initiative scheme are not available, as there are many factors that can influence the outcome for each of these schemes.
Hospital Ward Housekeeping Services
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of hospitals have implemented a ward housekeeping service; when the target was set for
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50 per cent. of all hospitals to have implemented such a service; when it is due to be met; and what the baseline was for the target. [128905]
Mr. Hutton: Housekeepers support an improved patient experience by ensuring that wards are clean, enjoyable food is available and that equipment works.
In June 2000, the NHS Plan set a target for 50 per cent. of hospitals to have a housekeeping service by 2004. At January 2003, 32 per cent. of all hospitals had begun to introduce housekeeping services, rising to 47 per cent. for hospitals with over 100 beds. These larger hospitals account for 86 per cent. of all beds.
The new style ward housekeeper role was developed with the support of 72 trusts that had already begun to develop services in this area. These trusts had a variety of models, including purely cleaning, or purely catering. The new model is a multi-skilled role, covering both areas.
Prior to the NHS Plan, housekeeping data were not collected centrally.
Infection Control
Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to monitor and improve levels of healthcare-associated infections in community healthcare settings; and if he will make a statement; [128923]
- (2) what plans his Department has to commission qualitative and quantitative studies to investigate infection control practice among community healthcare personnel; [128925]
(3) what central monitoring and recording is undertaken by his Department on compliance with infection control guidelines in community healthcare settings. [128926]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Central monitoring of compliance with infection control in community settings is not undertaken.
New National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines, "Infection Control: Prevention of Healthcare-associated Infection in Primary and Community Care" were published this summer. These evidence-based guidelines include the standard principles for controlling infection, for example, hand hygiene and the prevention of infections associated with certain invasive devices. They also contain information on the education of healthcare workers, guidance on implementation and audit criteria to assess compliance. Implementation of these guidelines and other initiatives will encourage good practice and help prevent avoidable infections.
The National health service research and development methodology programme has recently asked for bids for research into surveillance of healthcare associated infection in the community after discharge from hospital treatment.
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