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3 Nov 2003 : Column 522W—continued
Health Strategy (Children/Adolescents)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department contributed to the World Health Organisation's discussion forum on the planned strategy on the health of children and adolescents. [133923]
Dr. Ladyman: Yes. The Department was represented at the World Health Assembly meeting in May 2003 and the World Health Organisation's Regional Committee for Europe in September 2003, both of which discussed the development of a comprehensive strategy on the health of children and adolescents.
Hospital at Night Project
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the first report on the Hospital at Night project is due to be completed. [133223]
Mr. Hutton: Information about the Hospital at Night project is currently available on the Configuring Hospitals website at www.doh.gov.uk/configuringhospitals. Further information will be made available on the site as the project progresses.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals are participating in the Hospital at Night project. [133224]
Mr. Hutton: The following four sites are piloting the hospital at night concept across adult acute specialties:
- Morecambe Bay National Health Service Trust.
- Wirral Hospital NHS Trust.
- Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
- Homerton Hospital NHS Trust.
The methodology is being extended to maternity and paediatrics, and three pilots have been established:
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South East London (a sector-wide pilot). This includes:
- Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust
Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Trust
King's College Hospital NHS Trust
Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust
Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust
The Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust
Newham Healthcare NHS Trust.
Morecambe Bay NHS Trust.
Hospital Machinery
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) ultrasound machines, (b) gamma cameras, (c) x-ray machines and (d) CT scanners the NHS has; in which hospital trust each machine is situated; and what the age of each machine is. [132780]
Miss Melanie Johnson: There is no information held by the Department of Health concerning the location or age of ultrasound scanners or x-ray machines. The latest available published data on locations of gamma cameras is available from a survey carried out in 2000 and is published at: http://www/canceruk.net/reports/gammadata/gammadata.htm
There are currently 322 computed tomography (CT) scanners installed in the National Health Service in England.
A programme to provide an additional 50 machines was announced on 22 May 2003 as well as funding to support a programme of replacement over the next three years. We anticipate there will be approximately 375 CT scanners by the end of 2004, and by December 2006, no CT scanner will be older than 10 years.
The list of CT scanners currently installed has been placed in the Library.
Working Time Directive
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date NHS hospital trusts have to submit plans for the implementation of the European Working Time Directive changes due in 2004. [133222]
Mr. Hutton: National health service trusts have been asked to prepare fully costed and robust action plans to their respective strategic health authorities by 31 December 2003.
Hypertension
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has contributed towards National Blood Pressure Testing Week 2003; and what targets have been set. [130112]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health has agreed to contribute the majority of the costs for the Blood Pressure Association's National Blood Pressure Testing Week 2003.
We were aiming for a minimum of 70,000 individuals in England to have their blood pressure checked during the week, but early estimates based upon a random sample of testing stations suggest that the numbers tested were double this figure.
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Besides the benefit to individuals of knowing their blood pressure numbers, the National Blood Pressure Testing Week helps to extend public and professional awareness of the problem of high blood pressure people through local and national media coverage and promotion of the event.
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is doing to help people with uncontrolled blood pressure. [130116]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Under the proposed new general medical services (GMS) contract general practitioners will be expected to produce a register of patients detailing the percentage with coronary heart disease whose notes have a record of blood pressure in the previous 15 months, and also the percentage of patients with coronary disease, in whom the last blood pressure reading (measured in the last 15 months) is 150/90 or less. The standard for records has indicators for the recording of blood pressure in patients aged 45 and over.
Additionally, the Department of Health is taking action to help prevent high blood pressure—through our work to improve diet, particularly to reduce salt in the diet, and to increase physical activity.
Infant Formula Milk
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995 are being observed. [135036]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 29 October 2003]: Day to day enforcement of these regulations is the responsibility of local authority trading standards and environmental health services. Specific guidance on the enforcement of the regulations has been issued to local authorities by the local authorities co-ordinator of regulatory services. The Food Standards Agency routinely monitors and audits local authority food law enforcement services and provides specific advice on all aspects of food law enforcement, including these regulations, on request.
Integrated Care Records
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the impact of using the integrated care records system on the time general practitioners spend with patients. [134288]
Mr. Hutton: The package of new information technology applications and systems will greatly reduce the requirement for general practitioners to chase test results, referral letters, appointments, process non-standard summaries and information around prescriptions. The wasted time through patients failing to attend appointments will also be reduced.
There are significant efficiency opportunities for GPs, and the high degree of computerisation across GP practices already collects and maintains much of the data that will become standard.
The overall result will not be a reduction in the time GPs have available to spend with their patients. Indeed, the availability of accurate and up-to-date information
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through the integrated care records service will improve the quality of care that GPs are able to provide to their patients.
Medical Staff
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) general practitioners, (b) hospital doctors and (c) consultants in London are over (i) 45 and (ii) 55; and what proportion of the total these figures represent. [133739]
Mr. Hutton: The number of general practitioners, hospital doctors and consultants in London broken down by age is shown in the table.
| of which: | of which: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Doctors | General Practitioners | HCHS Doctors | Consultants | |
| All age-bands | 19,990 | 4,727 | 15,263 | 5,491 |
| Under 30 | 3,823 | 187 | 3,636 | — |
| 30–34 | 3,667 | 559 | 3,108 | 91 |
| 35–39 | 3,242 | 646 | 2,596 | 982 |
| 40–44 | 2,637 | 750 | 1,887 | 1,310 |
| 45–49 | 2,063 | 654 | 1,409 | 1,086 |
| 50–54 | 1,858 | 713 | 1,145 | 895 |
| 55–59 | 1,538 | 630 | 908 | 682 |
| 60–64 | 831 | 357 | 474 | 364 |
| 65–69 | 281 | 201 | 80 | 68 |
| 70 and over | 50 | 30 | 20 | 13 |
| Percentage aged 45 or over | 33.1 | 54.7 | 26.4 | 56.6 |
| Percentage aged 55 or over | 13.5 | 25.8 | 9.7 | 20.5 |
Sources:
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Mental Health
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the efficiency of each Mental Health Review Tribunal English administrative office; and if he will make a statement. [134196]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Each Mental Health Review Tribunal office was examined in detail during the Robert Lee review. Robert Lee reported that each office had regional variations in efficiency and practice, linked to their geographical position and workload.
The benefits of consolidating the regional offices into one model across two closely linked centres, chime with those set out in the review of tribunals and the independent review of the Mental Health Review Tribunal administration.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the benefits of establishing a single English administrative office of the Mental Health Review Tribunal; and if he will make a statement. [134197]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In 2001, Sir Andrew Leggatt reported to the Lord Chancellor on his review of tribunals. His recommendations included a central administration for all tribunals.
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In early 2002, Robert Lee undertook a review of the administration of the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT). He reported in October, and a key recommendation was to reduce the four MHRT offices to one in order to support consistency of practice, systems and use of resources.
Both reports supported a single administration. Current plans are to rationalise the service over two centres in London. Benefits will be:
- consistency of approach to the management and listing of cases;
better and more flexible use of staff and judicial resources; and
assurance for the Secretary of State for Health that his statutory obligations are met.
Ms Rosie Winterton: The decision to consolidate the administration in the two London offices is based upon the availability of suitable accommodation and the retention of as much staff expertise as possible.
The timing is part of a project plan to deliver the consolidation of the administrative model by the end of this financial year.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on access to patient records by patients with mental illnesses. [134807]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Access to patient records by any patient, regardless of whether they are mentally ill, must be in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on access to mental health records of patients by voluntary sector bodies providing care to those patients. [134808]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Access to mental health records by voluntary sector bodies must be in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, common law obligations of confidentiality and other relevant legislation.
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