House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 4 Feb 2004 (pt 23)

4 Feb 2004 : Column 959W—continued

Contracting Out

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of procedures contracted out by the NHS to the public sector in the last 12 months. [146304]

Mr. Hutton: The Department does not hold centrally information on the cost of procedures contracted out by the national health service to the private sector in the last 12 months. The exception is the independent sector treatment centre programme. One centre is already open at Daventry, and we estimate that, to date, contracted out procedures at Daventry will amount to approximately £1,096,800.

Dentistry

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of dental treatment in (a) Brent, (b) London and (c) England was in each year since 1997. [149898]

Mr. Hutton: The average costs of a course of dental treatment in the general dental service for adults and children in England, London and Brent and Harrow Health Authority (HA) for each financial year are shown in Table 1 for the period 1997–98 to the first half of 2002–03 and for Brent Primary Care Trust (PCT) for the second half of 2002–03 in Table 2.

4 Feb 2004 : Column 960W

These costs are for payment made to the dentist for dental treatment. These include the patient charges where applicable. They exclude patient registration payments to the dentists. Some patients may have more than one course of treatment in a year.

The averages for children excludes courses of treatment involving an examination only, which are not paid for separately but covered by the patient registration payment to dentists.

Table 1: General Dental Service—Average cost of dental treatment for 1997–98 to 2002–03 first half£

England London Brent and HarrowHealth Authority

Children Adult Children Adult Children Adult

1997–98 26.1 32.5 36.2 47.2 36.6 45.7

1998–99 28.5 33.5 39.1 48.8 32.8 47.7

1999–2000 29.9 34.8 42.3 51.7 34.0 50.6

2000–01 32.0 35.5 45.7 52.9 37.2 52.6

2001–02 34.5 36.3 48.3 54.7 40.9 54.3

2002–03⁽¹²⁾ 35.7 37.4 49.0 57.2 42.2 56.2

	England	London	Brent and HarrowHealth Authority
	Children	Adult	Children	Adult	Children	Adult
1997–98	26.1	32.5	36.2	47.2	36.6	45.7
1998–99	28.5	33.5	39.1	48.8	32.8	47.7
1999–2000	29.9	34.8	42.3	51.7	34.0	50.6
2000–01	32.0	35.5	45.7	52.9	37.2	52.6
2001–02	34.5	36.3	48.3	54.7	40.9	54.3
2002–03⁽¹²⁾	35.7	37.4	49.0	57.2	42.2	56.2

⁽¹²⁾ Covers period from 30 April 2002 to 30 September 2002.

Source:

Dental Practice Board.

Table 2: General Dental Service—Average cost of dental treatment for 2002–03 second half£

2002–03⁽¹³⁾

Children Adult

England 37.5 37.2

London 50.8 56.1

Brent PCT 39.1 55.4

	2002–03⁽¹³⁾
	Children	Adult
England	37.5	37.2
London	50.8	56.1
Brent PCT	39.1	55.4

⁽¹³⁾ Covers period from 31 October 2002 to 31 March 2003.

Source:

Dental Practice Board.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists' surgeries in Brent East constituency are accepting new NHS patients. [149905]

Mr. Hutton: Figures collected by the Department are by primary care trust (PCT) and not by constituency.

Brent PCT has:

51 dental surgeries accepting children (latest data available—January 2004);

13 dental surgeries accepting national health service charge-paying patients i.e. those not exempt from payment (latest data available—January 2004); and

44 dental surgeries accepting NHS charge-exempt patients (latest data available—October 2003).

The nhs.uk website at: www.nhs.uk/root/administration/reports/dentalreport.asp gives information on dental practices and whether or not new patients are being accepted.

Note:

1. Some surgeries may accept more than one type of patient. So the overall total of 64 surgeries includes some surgeries which are not accepting new NHS patients.

2. There may be some dental surgeries which are not included in the nhs.uk figures. nhs.uk figures have been used here because that source gives information on dentists' acceptance practices.

4 Feb 2004 : Column 961W

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) NHS and (b) private dental practices there are in (i) the Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust and (ii) the Essex Strategic Health Authority. [152441]

Dr. Ladyman: At August 2003 there were 21 general dental service practices in Castle Point and Rochford Primary Care Trust and 248 practices in Essex Strategic Health Authority.

Information on the number of private dental practices is not collected centrally. Generally, few dental practices are wholly private.

NHS Students (Child Care)

Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to introduce the scheme to help with child care costs for national health service-funded students with children aged up to five years. [152771]

Mr. Hutton: It is intended to introduce a scheme to assist national health service-funded students with childcare costs in September 2004. Officials are currently developing proposals for the scheme.

Drug Prices

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate of drug price inflation his Department is using in budgets for financial year 2004–05. [144145]

Mr. Hutton: In calculating budgets for 2004–05, we are providing for a growth of about ten per cent. in the estimated outturn expenditure on drugs for 2003–04. The percentage growth is based on a combined figure of volume and price inflation, and we are thus unable to break it down to obtain separate figures.

General Practitioners

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many general practitioner vacancies there were in (a) Brent Primary Care Trust, (b) London and (c) England in each year since 1997; [150812]

Mr. Hutton: The Department's annual general practitioner (GP) recruitment and retention and vacancy (RRV) survey started in 2000.

The number of GP vacancies in England and in each London strategic health authority since 2000 is shown in Table 1. The number of GP vacancies in each London primary care trust (PCT) including Brent PCT, for 2003, is shown in Table 2. This is the first year vacancy data has been collected at PCT level.

The RRV survey is a count of all GP vacancies that have occurred during each year. It will include existing posts that doctors have left and also new posts created to increase the workforce, even where they were filled very quickly. Thus, the increase in vacancies in part, is a result of there being more posts overall, reflecting the Government's plan to increase the GP workforce.

4 Feb 2004 : Column 962W

Table 1: England GP vacancy numbers by London SHA,2000 to 2003

2000 2001 2002 2003

England total ⁽¹⁴⁾1,143 ⁽¹⁵⁾2,345 ⁽¹⁶⁾2,487 ⁽¹⁷⁾3,245

of which:

North Central London SHA 22 78 80 53

North East London SHA 18 55 17 104

South East London SHA 38 101 81 179

South West London SHA 16 ⁽¹⁵⁾42 ⁽¹⁶⁾29 ⁽¹⁷⁾45

North West London SHA 49 60 93 78

	2000	2001	2002	2003
England total	⁽¹⁴⁾1,143	⁽¹⁵⁾2,345	⁽¹⁶⁾2,487	⁽¹⁷⁾3,245
of which:
North Central London SHA	22	78	80	53
North East London SHA	18	55	17	104
South East London SHA	38	101	81	179
South West London SHA	16	⁽¹⁵⁾42	⁽¹⁶⁾29	⁽¹⁷⁾45
North West London SHA	49	60	93	78

⁽¹⁴⁾ In 2000 four HAs did not respond to the survey. These made up parts of: Thames Valley SHA, County Durham & Tees Valley SHA, North & East Yorkshire & N Lincolnshire SHA and Trent SHA.

⁽¹⁵⁾ In 2001 two HAs did not respond to the survey. These made up parts of: Surrey & Sussex SHA and South West London SHA.

⁽¹⁶⁾ In 2002 four HAs did not respond to the survey. These made up parts of: Surrey & Sussex SHA, South West London SHA, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire & Rutland SHA and Hampshire & Isle of Wight SHA.

⁽¹⁷⁾ In 2003 one PCT in South West London SHA did not respond to the survey.Note:

Years prior to 2003 have been mapped to current SHA areas 2003 numbers were collected directly from PCTs. Previous years vacancy numbers were collect from Health Authorities.

Source:

Department of Health GP Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy surveys, 2000–03.

Table 2: GP vacancy numbers by London PCT, 2003

ISHA Total

England Total 3,245

of which:

London All 459

of which:

North Central London All 53

of which:

Barnet PCT 27

Camden PCT 8

Enfield PCT 4

Haringey PCT 9

Islington PCT 5

North East London All 104

of which:

Barking and Dagenham PCT 7

Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT 12

City and Hackney PCT 22

Havering PCT 10

Newham PCT 15

Redbridge PCT 13

Tower Hamlets PCT 13

Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT 12

North West London All 78

of which:

Brent PCT 16

Ealing PCT 1

Hammersmith & Fulham PCT 5

Harrow PCT 28

Hillingdon PCT 9

Hounslow PCT 3

Kensington and Chelsea PCT 9

Westminster PCT 7

South East London All 179

of which:

Bexley PCT 24

Bromley PCT 37

Greenwich PCT 32

Lambeth PCT 32

Lewisham PCT 21

Southwark PCT 33

South West London All ⁽¹⁸⁾45

of which:

Croydon PCT 24

Kingston PCT 3

Richmond and Twickenham PCT 4

Wandsworth PCT 14

ISHA	Total
England Total	3,245
of which:
London All	459
of which:

North Central London All	53
of which:
Barnet PCT	27
Camden PCT	8
Enfield PCT	4
Haringey PCT	9
Islington PCT	5

North East London All	104
of which:
Barking and Dagenham PCT	7
Chingford, Wanstead and Woodford PCT	12
City and Hackney PCT	22
Havering PCT	10
Newham PCT	15
Redbridge PCT	13
Tower Hamlets PCT	13
Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone PCT	12

North West London All	78
of which:
Brent PCT	16
Ealing PCT	1
Hammersmith & Fulham PCT	5
Harrow PCT	28
Hillingdon PCT	9
Hounslow PCT	3
Kensington and Chelsea PCT	9
Westminster PCT	7

South East London All	179
of which:
Bexley PCT	24
Bromley PCT	37
Greenwich PCT	32
Lambeth PCT	32
Lewisham PCT	21
Southwark PCT	33

South West London All	⁽¹⁸⁾45
of which:
Croydon PCT	24
Kingston PCT	3
Richmond and Twickenham PCT	4
Wandsworth PCT	14

⁽¹⁸⁾ One PCT (Sutton & Merton PCT, South West London SHA) did not respond to the survey.

Notes:

No figures for PCTs are available before 2003 as previous years vacancy numbers were collected from Health Authorities.

Source:

Department of Health GP Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy survey 2003.

4 Feb 2004 : Column 963W

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average amount of funding provided to a general practitioner surgery is in (a) England and (b) the London Borough of Havering. [150371]

Mr. Hutton: The Department does not collect information at a London borough level, but rather at primary care trust (PCT) level. The answer therefore compares the national position with Havering PCT. The average funding per general practitioner practice in England in 2002–03 was £464,000. The average funding per GP practice in Havering PCT was £347,000. However, the number of practitioners per practice in Havering PCT as at March 2003 was lower (at 2.58) than the national average (at 3.76). Consequently, when practitioner numbers are used, the average cost per practitioner in England was £124,000, while the equivalent figure in Havering PCT was £134,000.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to recruit general practitioners; what the current national ratio of patients to general practitioners is; what the ratio is in the Portsmouth area; and how many general practitioner vacancies there are in (a) Portsmouth and (b) South East Hampshire. [151993]

Mr. Hutton: The Government are committed to recruiting and retaining more general practitioners (GPs). A range of measures have been implemented including financial incentives, extended options for flexible working and improved family friendly policies.

The ratio of patients to unrestricted principals and equivalent (UPE) general practitioners (GPs) in England and in Portsmouth Primary Care Trust is shown in table 1.

The number of GP vacancies recorded in the GP recruitment and retention vacancy survey between 1 April 2O02 and 31 March 2003 in Portsmouth PCT and East Hampshire PCT and Fareham and Gosport PCT is shown in table 2.

This is a count of all GP vacancies that have occurred during each year. It will include existing posts that doctors have left and also new posts created to increase the work force, even where they were filled very quickly. Thus, the number of vacancies in part is a result of there being more posts overall, reflecting the Governments plan to increase the GP work force.

4 Feb 2004 : Column 964W

The Department of Health collects figures by PCT only, not by constituency.

Table 1: Patients of unrestricted principals and equivalents (UPEs)⁽¹⁹⁾ for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority—England, as at 30 September 2002Number (headcount)

England Portsmouth City PCT

All practitioners⁽²⁰⁾ 32,292 105

of which:

UPEs 28,031 101

Patients of UPEs 51,522,391 181,805

Ratio UPEs to patients 1:1,838 1:1,800

	England	Portsmouth City PCT


All practitioners⁽²⁰⁾	32,292	105
of which:
UPEs	28,031	101
Patients of UPEs	51,522,391	181,805
Ratio UPEs to patients	1:1,838	1:1,800

⁽¹⁹⁾ UPEs include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs and PMS salaried GPs.

⁽²⁰⁾ All practitioners include GMS unrestricted principals, PMS contracted GPs, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para. 52 SPA), PMS other and GP retainers.

Source:

Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Table 2: Reported GP vacancies in England and Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA and PCTs, 2003

Headcount (number)

England total ⁽²¹⁾3,245

East Hampshire PCT 18

Fareham and Gosport PCT 10

Portsmouth City PCT 10

	Headcount (number)
England total	⁽²¹⁾3,245

East Hampshire PCT	18
Fareham and Gosport PCT	10
Portsmouth City PCT	10

⁽²¹⁾ One PCT (Sutton and Merton PCT, South West London SHA) did not respond to the survey.

Note:

No figures for PCTs are available before 2003 as previous years vacancy numbers were collected from health authorities.

Source:

Department of Health GP Recruitment, Retention and Vacancy survey 2003.

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