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27 Apr 2004 : Column 958W—continued
Internet Medical Companies
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what controls the General Medical Council has introduced to ensure that doctors who service internet medical companies provide patient consultations. [167802]
Mr. Hutton: The General Medical Council (GMC) published guidance entitled, "Providing advice and medical services on-line or by telephone", in November 1998. This can be found on the GMC website at www.gmc-uk.org/standards and this information has been placed in the Library.
Maternity Services (Buckinghamshire)
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the risk assessment carried out by clinicians in relation to the transfer of maternity services from Wycombe Hospital to Stoke Mandeville proposed in the Shaping Health Services document published by the Mid and South Bucks Health Community was carried out. [167487]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 22 April 2004]: In line with our policy on "Shifting the Balance of Power", the responsibility for the provision of local services now rest with local trusts. It is now for primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community.
However, I have been informed that a range of activities have been undertaken to date to evaluate the risks associated with a range of options for configuring paediatric and maternity services within the Buckinghamshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust.
A review of a range of literature and evidence including the guidance from the relevant Royal Colleges.
The establishment of a women and children's project group as a sub group of the "Shaping Health Services" project board,
- which involves a wider range of stakeholders including the National Childbirth Trust and patient/public representatives, and has met on a regular basis since December 2003.
A range of meetings with the senior staff, consultants, nurses and midwives, since September 2003.
A half-day workshop with consultants, nurses, midwives and managers.
External expert support from Mr. Nick Naftelin, obstetrics and gynaecology consultant, who works for the Modernisation Agency and has advised throughout the process.
Visits to other units to learn about other models of care.
Minor Injuries Treatment (Dorset)
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current capacity is of minor injury units in Dorset. [168821]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 26 April 2004]: Information on the current capacity of minor injury units in Dorset is not collected centrally. However, the number of attendances in accident and emergency departments in Dorset between October and December 2003 are shown in the table.
| Quarter 3 | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Type 3 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Major A&E | Speciality A&E | Other A&E/MUIs | WICs | All types |
| South and East Dorset PCT | 0 | 0 | 1,378 | 0 | 1,378 |
| South West Dorset PCT | 0 | 0 | 1,342 | 0 | 1,342 |
| West Dorset General Hospitals Trust | 7,369 | 0 | 2,828 | 0 | 10,197 |
| Poole Hospitals NHS Trust | 12,470 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12,470 |
| Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust | 19,740 | 3,976 | 0 | 0 | 23,716 |
Source:
Department of Health dataset QMAE
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are for improving the current provision of treatment for minor injuries in the Poole and Wimborne area. [168823]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 26 April 2004]: In line with our policy on "Shifting the Balance of Power", the responsibility for the provision of local services now rest with local trusts. It is now for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community.
However, I understand that there was recently a consultation exercise relating to the future of minor injury provision in Wimborne, Dorset. Consultation is now officially over and this will be discussed at the South and East Dorset PCT board meeting on 19 May 2004.
NHS Professionals
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of NHS trusts are using NHS Professionals; and if he will make a statement; [167405]
(2) what progress has been made towards the target of all NHS trusts using NHS Professionals by April 2005; and if he will make a statement. [167427]
Mr. Hutton: At the current time, NHS Professionals provide services to 91, or 34 per cent. of national health service trusts and 37, or 12 per cent. of primary care trusts (PCTs). NHS bodies have been encouraged by the Department to engage with the special health authority to understand the benefits it can offer for the cost effective management of temporary staffing. It is hoped and anticipated therefore, that the number of NHS trusts and PCTs using NHS Professionals will steadily expand.
Occupational Health
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of companies in England he estimates have an occupational health department; and if he will make a statement. [167407]
Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) commissioned research by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) 'Survey of Use of Occupational Health Support' published in June 2002 which showed that 3 per cent. of all companies throughout the country provided OH support. The definition of occupational health support used for this purpose is one which includes hazard identification, risk management, provision of information, modifying work activities, training on occupational health-related issues, measuring workplace hazards, monitoring trends in health.
Paediatric Staff
Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many paediatric staff, broken down by medical category, were (a) recruited and (b) employed by hospital trusts in the south-east region of England in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003. [167485]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 22 April 2004]: Information on the number of medical staff working in trusts in the south-east region of England in the specified years, by staff group and by the paediatric group of specialties has been placed in the Library.
Poole Hospital (A&E Unit)
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest average waiting time is for patients with minor injuries at Poole Hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit. [168822]
Ms Rosie Winterton
[holding answer 26 April 2004]: The average waiting times for patients with minor injuries at Poole Hospital's accident and emergency department is not collected centrally.
27 Apr 2004 : Column 961W
However, the latest figures for Poole Hospitals national health service trust are shown in the table for the number of patients spending over four hours in accident and emergency. These include all patients, and not just those with minor injuries.
| Quarter | Total attendances | Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in accident and emergency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 3 | 12,470 | 90.6 |
Source:
Department of Health dataset QMAE. Published 11 March 2004.
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