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Learning Disabilities

Mr. Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated to the provision of services for people with learning disabilities since the publication of the White Paper "Valuing People"; how this funding has been spent; and what funding remains unallocated. [138187]

Dr. Ladyman: Over £3 billion a year is spent on health and social care provision for people with learning disabilities. The White Paper, "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086), published in March 2001, which set out our proposals for improving services for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, announced two new funds to support its proposals: the implementation support fund (ISF) from April 2001 and the learning disability development fund (LDDF) from April 2002. Funding has been allocated to support priorities set out in "Valuing People".

Money from the £2.3 million ISF was fully allocated in both 2001–02 and 2002–03. We expect it to be fully allocated in 2003–04. Funding has been used to support a range of work, including:

The development and support of advocacy services


The setting up and support of the national forum of people with learning disabilities and its network of regional forums

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The preparation, publication, and dissemination of good practice guidance on a range of subjects


The setting up and support of the Learning Disability Telephone Information and Helpline (funded jointly with MENCAP)


Extension of the learning disability awards framework.

The LDDF was introduced in April 2002. £2 million of the £22.6 million revenue element available in 2002–03 was used to support the "Valuing People" support team and its related activities. The remainder was distributed to health authorities on a pro-rata basis to be used as agreed through their partnership board, with their partner local authorities to support the following priorities for service change:

Modernising day centres


Completing the reprovision of the remaining long-stay hospitals to enable people to move to more appropriate accommodation


Developing supported living approaches for people with learning disabilities living with older carers


Promoting the further development of advocacy


Supporting the wider introduction of person centred planning


Enhancing leadership in learning disability services.

In 2003–04, £2 million was again allocated for the "Valuing People" support team, with £21 million being distributed to primary care trusts to be used on the above priorities for service change.

The capital element of the LDDF comprises £20 million a year to be used on the following priorities:

Enabling local providers to develop specialist services for people with severe challenging behaviour


Developing integrated health and social services facilities for children and people with severe disabilities and complex needs


Developing supported living approaches for people with learning disabilities living with older carers


Implementing the results of person centred planning for people currently living in national health service campuses.

In 2002–03, bids were invited from learning disability partnership boards and £16 million of the available £20 million was allocated. In 2003–04, the £20 million capital was allocated direct to strategic health authorities as part of their strategic capital allocations.

London NHS Trusts

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total aggregate cumulative deficit of London NHS trusts was at the end of the most recent financial year for which records are available. [133743]

Mr. Hutton: The combined balance sheets of all London national health service trusts at the end of 2002–03 show a net cumulative deficit on the income and expenditure reserve account of £47.7 million. This figure does not necessarily represent liabilities which will need to be settled nor is it an indication of poor financial performance. Changes in accounting policy and the periodic re-valuation of assets over recent years have distorted the apparent financial position of NHS trusts.

The latest annual accounts for 2002–03 show London NHS trusts made an overall surplus of £4.3 million. All have balanced financial plans for 2003–04.

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Market Research

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list each item of market and opinion research commissioned since May 1997 by (a) his Department and (b) agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible; what the purpose of each item was; and whether the results were published. [137008]

Ms Rosie Winterton: A list of research projects carried out by the Department since 1 May 1997 was placed in the Library in July 1999. The list may not include all research projects, as some information was not centrally available. The list has been updated year on year, with the most recent list, for 2002–03, being placed in the Library in July 2003.

We are committed to consulting and involving the public to help inform both policy formulation and the delivery of better quality and more responsive public services.

Market or opinion research is commissioned only when it is justified by the needs of the policy programme and is the most economical, efficient and effective way to achieve the purpose.

Medicine Reviews

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by primary care trust, the (a) numbers and (b) percentages of patients over 75 who have had their medicines reviewed at least annually in the last three years. [137929]

Dr. Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Health

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he proposes to publish the summary of responses to the consultation on the Draft Mental Health Bill. [139096]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government's response to the consultation will be published prior to introduction of the Bill. It will be available in hard copy and on the Department of Health website.

At that time, copies of responses will be placed in the Library, except in cases where respondents have asked for confidentiality.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason no Warrington-based ambulances were available in Warrington during the weekend of 1 and 2 November 2003; and if he will take steps to ensure that Mersey Regional Ambulance Service do not allow this situation to occur again. [136788]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The shortfall in the number of Warrington-based ambulances in Warrington during 1 and 2 November 2003 was due to the diversion of blue light admissions from Warrington Hospital accident and emergency department. Ambulances were diverted to other hospitals in the area, which included

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Manchester and Stoke. This had a direct impact on the length of time taken for ambulances to return to the Warrington area.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to develop an effective internal and external communications strategy as recommended by the Commission for Health Improvement; and if he will place a copy of the strategy in the Library. [138444]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 13 November 2003]: In July 2002, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service appointed a communications manager with considerable senior level experience. A review of both internal and external communications has taken place along with a review of the trusts ability to provide effective communications. The trust is currently drawing up its communications strategy. A copy will be placed in the Library when it is completed.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service has taken to arrange with NHS acute trusts locations for ambulance liaison assistants which maintain patient confidentiality. [138445]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 13 November 2003]: Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority reports that several initiatives have been taken forward to address this issue. In particular:

A major redesign of Aintree Hospital included refurbishment work within the ambulance liaison assistants (ALA) area. This is now more accessible for patients and more suited to their needs. This has also involved a redesign of the office furniture and now all telephone conversations are conducted behind a higher level counter;


During the last 12 months a refurbishment project has been carried out by the Countess of Chester Hospital and this included work in the ALA lounge. Specifically, this involved relocating the patient transport service lounge to make it more accessible and more open plan to create a better environment. Telephone conversations are now held in a much more secure environment behind high level counters;


Work is also currently ongoing with the Royal Liverpool Hospital. As part of its major entrance redesign, this has included the creation of a purpose built patient discharge and ambulance liaison lounge. This is a confidential environment.

Furthermore, recognising the need to work more closely with its hospital partners, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service National Health Service Trust has recently completed a management restructure, which empowers managers to work on a more integrated basis within the health economy to ensure such projects are taken forward.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures have been put in place by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service to ensure that all crews receive information and training on new vehicles prior to their introduction. [138446]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 13 November 2003]: A number of procedures ensure that all staff receive training and information on new vehicles prior to their introduction. These are consistent with the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service national health service trust's health and safety policy and supported by the head of training and development.

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The trust also operates a vehicle working group, which is made up of managers, staff and trade union representatives. This group agrees the format of all new vehicles and equipment as well as the formal training plan to ensure staff receive appropriate training prior to the vehicles being put into service.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place a copy of Mersey Regional Ambulance Service's child protection policy in the Library. [138447]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 13 November 2003]: Following the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) action plan, the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service national health service trust agreed to review its current child protection arrangements.

A draft policy is awaiting approval by the trust board. The trust is on target to achieve the timescales of the CHI recommendations. A copy will be placed in the Library in due course.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by Mersey Regional Ambulance Service in developing a plan for the training of staff in clinical audit skills; and if he will place a copy of the plan in the Library. [138448]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 13 November 2003]: Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic health authority reports that the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service is developing a trust-wide training programme for frontline staff in clinical audit skills and will incorporate this into the training and education strategy by December 2003.

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A copy of the programme will be placed in the Library when it is completed.

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