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4 Nov 2003 : Column 593W—continued

NHS Treatment Entitlement

19. Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions the NHS has in place to ensure that only those entitled to NHS treatment receive it. [135988]

Mr. Hutton: Entitlement to free national health service treatment is based on residence in the United Kingdom. The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 place a duty on NHS trusts to establish whether a patient is ordinarily resident or eligible for free NHS hospital treatment and if not to levy a charge for any treatment provided. The Government is consulting on proposals to strengthen the charging regulations.

Men's Health

20. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Government has made in meeting targets set for men's health in the National Plan. [135989]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Work under way on the Department's priority areas, coronary heart disease and cancer—the major killers of men—is having the greatest

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impact upon men's health. This includes initiatives to reduce smoking and improve diet and nutrition. Action to tackle drugs and alcohol misuse will also impact preferentially on men's health.

New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton

21. Mr. Dennis Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to visit New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton to inspect the premises.[135990]

Dr. Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted an invitation to visit New Cross Hospital. The date has not yet been finalised.

NHS Dentistry

22. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of state for Health if he will make a statement on NHS dentistry provision in Leicestershire. [135991]

Dr. Ladyman: In common with a number of areas, the recruitment of NHS dentists is a challenge in the Leicestershire area. The Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA is addressing access to NHS dentistry as a key priority. A number of options are being examined and these will be supported by funding which has been ring fenced with the aim of attracting more dentists to the area.

"Forecasting the Nation's Health"

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the pilot of the "Forecasting the Nation's Health"; if he will list the trusts which participated in the pilot of the "Forecasting the Nation's Health"; and what plans he has to expand the pilots of the "Forecasting the Nation's Health" to further trusts. [133930]

Ms Rosie Winterton: To support national health service managers in anticipating circumstances of weather related high demand, the Met Office (in partnership with the Department of Health and NHS pilot sites) ran a weather forecast/health demand trial project, "Forecasting the Nation's Health", supported by Her Majesty's Treasury "Invest to Save" funding over the winters of 2001–02 and 2002–03. The aim was to provide NHS managers with advance warning of whether to expect increased or reduced emergency admissions and allow them to plan the use of resources more efficiently.

This work was without precedent internationally. The trial project has been completed and two external evaluations examined the reliability and value of such workload forecasting for the NHS. NHS users have been closely involved in the evaluation. The following trusts participated in the pilot:

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The Department of Health is currently assessing the evaluations with particular interest in the reliability, accuracy and usability of the forecasts in order to make an informed decision about the future direction of support for health demand forecasting systems.

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has made to the Chancellor for funds to be made available for the continuation of the piloting of the "Forecasting the Nation's Health". [133931]

Ms Rosie Winterton: To support national health service managers in anticipating circumstances of weather related high demand, the Met Office (in partnership with the Department of Health and NHS pilot sites) ran a weather forecast/health demand trial project, "Forecasting the Nation's Health", supported by Her Majesty's Treasury "Invest to Save" funding over the winters of 2001–02 and 2002–2003.

The Department of Health is currently assessing the independent evaluations of this project before making a decision as to the future direction, support and funding of demand forecasting systems in the NHS. Any decisions about levels and sources of funding will depend on the outcome of this assessment.

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Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will bring forward proposals on the statutory self-regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners. [135972]

Mr. Hutton: The Government welcomes the recent publication of the reports of the Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Regulatory Working Groups. We will give careful consideration to the working groups' recommendations, prior to consulting on the statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners. A consultation document will be published early next year.

Ashford (Middlesex) Hospital

Mr. Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the staff in the new treatment centre at Ashford (Middlesex) hospital will be (a) additional staff and (b) staff transferring from the NHS. [130935]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 18 September 2003]: The exact position on staffing in this unit will be finalised as part of the final negotiations. It is expected that the professional staff will include additional staff provided by the independent sector provider and national health service staff working in the unit in an agreed and structured way.

Mental Health (Deaf People)Audiology

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Government are taking to make its suicide prevention strategy accessible to deaf people; [134941]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The suicide prevention strategy was launched in September 2002. The strategy is still available in hard copy and can also be accessed via the Department of Health and National Institute for Mental Health in England websites. The deaf community is able to request copies of the document through the Department of Health Publications Orderline on minicom.

Primary care trusts (PCTs) are required to carry,out suicide audits as part of their performance review process, but this does not, however, require PCTs to collect data about deaf people as distinct from any other group.

The development of mental health services for deaf people, "A Sign of the Times", was the subject of a separate extensive consultation, which concluded earlier this year. Officials are currently considering how to represent the many high quality responses received.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government is taking to develop evidence-based service provision for the prevention of mental health problems in deaf people. [134943]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The evidence that we have indicates, as outlined in the consultation document Sign of the Times, that access to a full range of services,

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support to parents in the early years and appropriate educational provision are likely to be the important factors.

The responsibility for assessing the needs of their entire populations, and for making the provision they consider most appropriate, lies with the primary care trusts.

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