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5 Feb 2004 : Column 1066W—continued
GM and Animal Insulins
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, columns 708–09W, what assessment he has made of the difference in costs between GM and animal insulins. [152391]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The cost of animal and genetically modified (GM) insulins varies between different manufacturers and presentations. The national health service list price of animal insulins is between £0.66/ml and £1.85/ml, and GM insulins, between £1.05/ml and £2.60/ml. Although the prices of individual insulins vary, the overall cost of medicines to the NHS is controlled by the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme which limits the profits companies are allowed to make through their trade with the NHS.
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Health Inequalities
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the individuals and organisations from which his Department, its executive agencies and the non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible received a response to the consultation, Tackling health inequalities: Consultation on a plan for delivery. [149870]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 22 January 2004]: A summary report of the responses received to the "Tackling Health Inequalities: Consultation on a Plan for Delivery" was published by the Department in June 2002. There were almost 600 written responses received and registered, and over 1,000 people attended regional conferences to consider the issues raised. A list of the registered names of individuals and organisations, together with a copy of the summary report has been placed in the Library.
Health Services Review (Surrey/Sussex)
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of the South East Surrey and North West Sussex Health Services Review (Bagnall Review) which began in February 2001. [147971]
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Ms Rosie Winterton: I understand that the Bagnall Review was commissioned in the year 2001 by the former East Surrey and West Sussex Health Authorities, and carried forward by the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA) from 2002.
As consistent with our policy on "Shifting the Balance of Power", ownership of all information relating to this matter now lies with the SHA and the hon. Member may wish to approach the Chair of the Board or the Chief Executive.
Health Statistics
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS statistics are collected specifically by age groupings including the (a) over 75s and (b) over 60s. [151909]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 4 February 2004]: Where practicable, relevant and justified, statistical collections by the Department include information on the date of birth or age of patients or other statistical subjects. Some data collected may include analysis by age groups and these may cover partly or wholly the over 60 and over 75 age groups.
The available information on collections that specifically collect by age-bands and those that collect individual age data is shown in the table.
| Collection | Over 75 age-band | Over 60 age-band | Other information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoking Cessation Services Return(30) | No | Yes | Other bands up to 59, then 60 and over |
| Attribution Dataset(30) | Yes | Yes | 5-year bands up to 80–84, then 85 and over |
| Summary of Genito-urinary Medicine Services(30) | No | No | 45–64, then 65 and over |
(30) Patient data
Department of Health information collections that include data by individual ages:
Data on patients
Hospital Episode Statistics
National Joint Registry (hip and knee joint replacements)
Patient Care in the Community: Community Learning Disability Nursing
Patient Care in the Community: Community Psychiatric Nursing
Patient Care in the Community: District Nursing
Summary of Chiropody Services
Summary of Contraceptive Services
Summary of Occupational Therapy Services
Summary of Physiotherapy Services
Summary of Speech and Language Therapy Services
Adult Screening Programme: Breast Screening (Screening Unit)
Adult Screening Programme: Breast Cancer (Health Authority)
Adult Screening Programme: Cervical Cytology
Immunisation Programmes: Health Authority Activity
National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS)
Pathology Laboratories: Cervical Cytology and Biopsies
Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS)
National Survey of Patient Experience
Data on the NHS workforce
Annual Census of General Medical Practitioners (GMPs)
Salaried Doctors employed under the Salaried Doctors Scheme
Annual Hospital and Community Health Services Medical and Dental Workforce Census
Annual Hospital and Community Health Services Non-Medical Workforce Census
Non-principals returns (assistants, trainee registrars and other doctors working in GMP practices)
Personal Medical Services (take-up of PMS status amongst GMPs)
Nursing Campaign Return (nurses returning to work in the NHS).
Hepatitis C
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the basis was upon which the calculation of compensation for those that contracted hepatitis C from NHS blood products was made. [151856]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The following independent resources were considered in order to determine the level of ex-gratia payments to be made by the Skipton Fund:
- The scheme of payments implemented by the Macfarlane Trust.
- The scheme of payments implemented by the Eileen Trust.
- The report of the Hepatitis C Working Party to the Haemophilia Society.
- The report of the Scottish Executive's Expert Group on Financial and Other Support chaired by Lord Ross.
The payment structure was also influenced by the need to consider the issue of making such ex-gratia payments in the context of other demands on the health care budget.
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Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recourse families of patients who died of the effects of hepatitis C contracted through NHS blood products will have to compensation. [151857]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The announcement of a payment scheme for every person who was alive on 29 August 2003, and whose hepatitis C infection is found to be attributable to national health service treatment with blood or blood products, was made on 23 January 2004. The Department has no plans to introduce a similar scheme or pay compensation to families of those who have died of the effects of such an infection.
If negligence on behalf of the NHS or private suppliers is suspected, families of those who have died are entitled to pursue punitive damages through the courts.
HIV/AIDS (Children)
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of (a) HIV positive and (b) Aids was among children aged from one year to 15 years in 2003. [152562]
Miss Melanie Johnson: In children aged one to 15 years, there were 81 confirmed HIV diagnoses in the United Kingdom in 2003, including 12 who presented with AIDS. These numbers will rise as late reports are incorporated.
In total, 742 children aged one to 15 years with diagnosed HIV infection were known to be living in the UK in 2003.
- Source:
- National Study of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood, Institute of Child Health, London and the Health Protection Agency.
MRSA
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to reduce the number of cases of MRSA in hospitals. [151715]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 29 January 2004]: We already have standards to ensure there is a managed environment, which minimises the risk of infection to patients, staff and visitors. Hospital performance in infection control has shown an improvement over the last three years but intensified action is required and a new action plan has been produced. We are confident that implementation of "Winning Ways—Working together to reduce Healthcare Associated Infection in England", will reduce infection rates for all pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Neurology Services (Hampshire)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in improving neurology services in (a) Portsmouth and (b) South East Hampshire in the last five years; and what plans he has for the services. [151994]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Since April 2002, responsibility for commissioning neurology services in Portsmouth and East Hampshire rests with Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust (PCT). During this time, the PCT
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has been working closely with East Hampshire PCT, Fareham and Gosport PCT and Southampton University Hospitals National Health Service Trust to reduce waiting times for the service and will continue to actively work in partnership with the NHS trust to look at ways of further developing the service.
The national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions will focus on improving the standard of neurology services across England. It will also address some of the generic issues that are important to people with non-neurological disabilities; such as access to rehabilitation services, provision of good quality information, support for carers and access to community equipment, assistive technology and wheelchairs. We have appointed an external reference group and working groups to make recommendations and consider areas and issues for proposed standards. We currently plan to publish the NSF in December 2004 for implementation from 2005.
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