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12 Mar 2004 : Column 1827W—continued
NCAA
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per case handled has been of the National Clinical Assessment Authority. [158758]
Mr. Hutton: The National Clinical Assessment Authority (NCAA) was established to help the National Health Service manage performance concerns about doctors and dentists. For the majority of the NCAA's casework (about 75 per cent.), the average direct cost is estimated at around £330 per case. A smaller proportion of cases (about 15 per cent.) require more detailed expert support of local case management, at an estimated average cost of between £7,500 to £8,500 per case. The estimated average cost of full clinical performance assessment is between £22,400 and £24,300 per case, depending on whether it is an hospital and community care or primary care case; full clinical performance assessment occurs in about only 10 per cent. of referrals made to the NCAA.
NHS Dentistry
Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average distance people living in the Blackpool, North and Fleetwood constituency need to travel to access an NHS dentist. [157912]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The average direct distance from postcodes in Blackpool, North and Fleetwood to the nearest dentist is 0.46 miles.
Mr. Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental practices provide NHS treatment in (a) Northumberland and (b) Wansbeck constituency; and where they are. [159583]
Miss Melanie Johnson: 51 dental practices were providing national health service treatment in Northumberland Care Trust, which includes the Wansbeck constituency, as reported at 31 August 2003 by the Dental Practice Board. This covers general dental service (GDS), emergency dental service and the salaried service of the GDS.
The number of dental practices by constituency is not available.
The addresses of dental practices can be found by accessing the www.nhs.uk website.
12 Mar 2004 : Column 1828W
Obesity
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to increase the number of surgical procedures to treat obesity on the NHS; and if he will make a statement; [159770]
(2) how many surgical procedures to treat obesity were carried out on the NHS in each year since 1996. [159771]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidance in July 2002 on surgery to aid weight reduction for people with morbid obesity.
The Department worked with the British Obesity Surgery Society (BOSS) on a planned implementation of the NICE guidance to ensure it was implemented safely. This additional advice was issued to strategic health authorities in September 2003.
The table shows the number of finished consultant episodes for operations undertaken with a primary diagnosis of obesity.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1995–96 | 299 |
| 1996–97 | 272 |
| 1997–98 | 280 |
| 1998–99 | 389 |
| 1999–2000 | 388 |
| 2000–01 | 492 |
| 2001–02 | 440 |
| 2002–03 | 538 |
Note:
1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of are within the year.
2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
3. Ungrossed data—figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.
Procurement Policy
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways environmentally sustainable procurement strategies within the Department have driven innovation in the design and supply of products. [159104]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) work with suppliers to encourage research and innovation, and to take account of environmental sustainability when setting procurement strategies for the National Health Service. Initiatives so far include: encouraging suppliers of copiers and printers to continually improve their environmental performance; implementing a prostheses and prosthetic component re-use scheme; encouraging the development of new clinical waste sacks; and promoting eco-labelling to the NHS. The Department also uses "green" electricity for its buildings.
The Department and the NHS PASA fully support and contribute to the interdepartmental sustainable procurement group's activity.
12 Mar 2004 : Column 1829W
Respiratory Disease
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 720W, on respiratory disease, how the estimated cost of treating respiratory disease as a percentage of expenditure was calculated; and what the latest corresponding cash equivalent figures are. [159480]
Dr. Ladyman: In 1996 the NHS Executive published "Burdens of Disease: A Discussion Document" which is the source of the 13 January answer on estimated cost. This document draws together data from various sources primarily between 1989–94.
The method of calculation is quite detailed and a copy of the Burdens publication will be placed in the Library to explain the derivation of the estimates.
The latest corresponding cash equivalent figures are not available as the estimates of the percentage breakdown are now 10-years-old and would not necessarily reflect the breakdown of current expenditure.
Salt Reduction Plans
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many salt reduction plans his Department (a) expected to receive and (b) received by 27 February; how he intends to follow up those who failed to submit a plan; and what plans he has to publish an assessment of the plans he has received. [158283]
Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 5 March 2004]: Stakeholders were asked to collaborate and develop partnerships to expedite the production of salt reduction plans. Plans were received from 12 manufacturing and retailing trade associations on behalf of their members, as well as 15 from individual stakeholders, who include the voluntary sector and retailers, by the deadline of 27 February. Also there were a further two plans from retail trade associations and nine from individual stakeholders received after the deadline of 27 February. An assessment is being undertaken and a summary report will be published, together with information on all respondents.
Sexual Health
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who have contracted (a) a sexually transmitted disease, (b) HIV/AIDS and (c) Hepatitis in each London borough since 1995. [159198]
Mr. Hutton: Information on the numbers of diagnoses of sexually transmitted diseases made in each London primary care trust (PCT) between 1995 and 2O02 have been placed in the Library. These data are not collected by London borough. The number of diagnoses made within each PCT does not reflect people who are resident within that PCT.
Information on the number of individuals with diagnosed HIV infection resident in each London local authority between 2000 and 2002 has also been placed in the Library. Data earlier than 2000 are not available.
12 Mar 2004 : Column 1830W
Information on the numbers of cases of hepatitis B and C reported from London between 1995 and 2003, together with an estimate of the number sexually acquired, has also been placed in the Library. This information is not routinely collected by London borough or PCT.
Smoking
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2004, Official Report, column 398W, on smoking, what the data is for quarters (a) two and (b) three. [159123]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The table shows the provisional results for the number of people setting a quit date through the National Health Service Stop Smoking Services, and the number who successfully quit at four week follow up.
| Number setting a quit date | Number successful (self-report) | |
|---|---|---|
| April-September 2003 | 129,752 | 68,644 |
Source:
Department of Health Smoking Cessation Monitoring Returns.
The next NHS Stop Smoking Services Quarterly Report with data on Quarter 3 is planned for publication in May 2004.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1071W on smoking, what work is being undertaken by other departments to implement smoke-free policies; and which minister co-ordinates these works. [159973]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health has taken the lead from April 2003 in making our buildings smoke-free and we continue to encourage employers and managers of public places to introduce smoke-free policies. We have not undertaken a formal review of smoking policies in all Government buildings but continue to liase and work with other Government Departments at official level. Individual Departments have provided details of their own smoking policies in previous responses to hon. and right hon. Members.
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