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10 Mar 2004 : Column 1612W—continued
Pulmonary Disease
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care; and if he will make a statement; [155109]
- (2) whether, following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, he will make it a priority for all hospitals and general practitioner surgeries to have access to (a) a spirometer and (b) adequate training in the use of spirometry; [155112]
(3) what steps he will take following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to ensure that all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have access to a multidisciplinary healthcare team; [155110]
(4) whether, following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, he will make it a priority for all hospitals and general practitioner surgeries to have access to non-invasive ventilation for the treatment of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; [155111]
(5) if, following the recommendations by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, he will provide funding for pulmonary rehabilitation courses to run in every hospital for all patients who consider themselves functionally disabled by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. [155113]
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Dr. Ladyman [pursuant to his reply, 5 March 2004, c. 1167–68W]: I regret that my previous response was incorrect, and should have read as follows.
As part of our commitment to improve services for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) we commissioned the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to prepare clinical guidelines for the National Health Service in England and Wales for the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of COPD. These guidelines were published on 25 February.
Now that the guidelines have been published primary care trusts, in partnership with local stakeholders, will decide what local service improvements need to be made. They have the responsibility for deciding what services to provide for their populations, including those with COPD and other respiratory diseases. They are best placed to understand local health needs and commission services to meet them.
The NHS is currently receiving the largest sustained increase in funding in its history. The total of PCT allocations for the next three years are £45 billion for 2003–04, £49.3 billion for 2004–05 and £53.9 billion for 2005–06. This represents an increase of £12.7 billion or an average of 30.8 per cent. over the three years 2003–04 to 2005–06. PCTs will use these allocations to implement local service improvements, which may include NICE's recommendations on COPD.
Radiographers
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographers there were in the UK in each year since 1990 in terms of (a) whole-time equivalents and (b) the total employed. [158824]
Mr. Hutton: The available information is shown in the table. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of radiographers by headcount employed in the national health service has increased by 11 per cent. Whole-time equivalent radiographers have increased by 10 per cent.
(60) not available
Note:
A new classification of the non-medical workforce was introduced in 1995. Information based on this classification is not directly comparable with earlier years.
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census
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Recruitment Advertising
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising. [155526]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Figures for advertising vacant posts are shown in the table.
| Year (1 April to 31 March) | Recruitment budget spend (£) |
|---|---|
| 2003 to date | 146,331.25 |
| 2002–03 | 345,229.15 |
The figures shown in the table do not include the Department's agencies. Figures prior to the year 2002–03 are not available.
The figures for general recruitment advertising are shown in the table.
| Expenditure (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 5 |
| 2002–03 | 4.3 |
| 2003–04 | 4.9 (estimated) |
Details of where advertisements are placed are not centrally recorded, and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Where advertisements are placed will depend on the nature of the vacancies or target audience.
The Department has a robust external recruitment policy which complies with the rules and requirements of "Minister's Rules for Selection", "The Civil Service Order in Council", Treasury and equal opportunity and employment protection legislation.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on recruitment advertising in each year since 1997. [156451]
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Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for North Tayside (Pete Wishart) today.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations he has received from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence on making Humira available on prescription in the NHS in England for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement. [159479]
Dr. Ladyman: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has not yet been asked to produce any guidance on Humira for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but the suitability of Humira for referral to NICE is under consideration.
Saxon Square Health Centre
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2004, Official Report, columns 555–56W, on Saxon Square Health Centre (Christchurch), for what reasons it is not in the best interests of the NHS for further negotiations to be held immediately with the head leaseholder; with which NHS trust negotiations are taking place for a transfer of the leasehold; when discussions began; and when he expects them to conclude. [159285]
Mr. Hutton [holding answer 5 March 2004]: The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch National Health Service Trust has expressed an interest to occupy this health centre.
Negotiations with the trust commenced in October 2003 and they will be completed as soon as possible. Progress is dependent on the costs to be incurred by the trust to occupy these offices.
Where property is held on a lease, it is usual that the head lessee will only be approached when a fully appraised proposal has been prepared.
School Nurses
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurse whole-time equivalents were employed in each of the primary care trusts in Greater London for each of the last five years. [158411]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not held centrally.
Sexual Health
Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of sexually transmitted diseases were treated by the NHS in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available. [158091]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) treated by the national health service is not routinely collected. However, data is collected on the number of diagnoses of STIs made in genito-urinary medicine clinics. These are shown in the table for the years 1992 to 2002.
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| Male | Female | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 177,064 | 195,218 | 372,282 |
| 1993 | 170,520 | 193,286 | 363,806 |
| 1994 | 178,866 | 212,010 | 390,876 |
| 1995 | 196,943 | 231,567 | 428,510 |
| 1996 | 202,465 | 249,438 | 451,903 |
| 1997 | 216,916 | 264,976 | 481,892 |
| 1998 | 228,963 | 277,945 | 506,908 |
| 1999 | 242,087 | 291,703 | 533,790 |
| 2000 | 260,899 | 309,173 | 570,072 |
| 2001 | 277,636 | 331,090 | 608,726 |
| 2002 | 295,411 | 348,988 | 644,399 |
Source:
KC60 statutory returns from GUM clinics.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage best practice in sexual health promotion among vulnerable communities in London. [159172]
Mr. Hutton: Primary care trusts (PCTs) provide sexual health promotion services which meet the needs of their local populations. To support them in this role, in 2003, the Department published good practice guidance for use by PCTs and others on both the commissioning of sexual health services and effective sexual health promotion. These documents include guidance on working with communities most at risk of poor sexual health and HIV. In addition, the Department undertakes nationally funded sexual health promotion, targeting those groups most at risk of HIV, including activities in the London area.
A joint project by the five London strategic health authorities is on-going to develop a framework for modernising sexual health services across London.
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of sexually transmitted diseases among (a) heterosexual and (b) homosexual males. [159193]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Through the Department's sexual health promotion work, we are raising public awareness of sexual health nationally through activities such as the Sex Lottery campaign. This targets 18 to 30-year-olds in raising awareness of sexually transmitted infections. Campaign materials include those specifically targeting young men, such as ambient materials in pubs and clubs (including men's washrooms) and advertisements in men's magazines.
The Department is funding the Men's Health Forum to investigate men's perception and attitudes towards chlamydia, the most common sexually transmitted infection, and to identify the best ways to target men (both with information and for screening).
The Department is also currently committing £1 million a year to support the Medical Research Council's sexual health and HIV research programme. Men at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV are a focus of a number of existing projects, and will be highlighted in future calls for new research, under this programme.
Gay and bisexual men are identified in the sexual health strategy as one of the groups disproportionately affected by poor sexual health. For these men, the
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Department contracts the Terrence Higgins Trust to undertake targeted sexual health promotion and HIV prevention, in partnership with community based organisations across the country.
In addition to this national work, primary care trusts are responsible for meeting the sexual health needs of their local populations. The sexual health promotion toolkit (2003) provides guidance and practical advice to those working in the field of sexual health promotion. It includes specific tips and good practice for working with men of all ages to ensure that they are proactively targeted and services are open and welcoming to men.
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