House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 May 2004 (pt 39)

5 May 2004 : Column 1625W—continued

Surplus Property Sales

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the sale of surplus NHS properties and Inventures to the Miller/Bank of Scotland Partnership. [169122]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 27 April 2004]: Following a decision by the Department not to pursue a real estate partnership with Miller /Halifax Bank of Scotland, an agreement in principle was given to transfer the surplus land to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). It was considered that a transfer of the property portfolio to ODPM would enable a greater emphasis to be given to addressing Government policy priorities for sustainable communities.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) transfer value and (b) size by hectare is of each of the surplus NHS properties to be transferred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister outlined in his news release of 7 April. [169123]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 27 April 2004]: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department have agreed in principle to the transfer of the portfolio but the details of the transaction and the price to be paid have still to be settled. The land is currently being independently valued.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what valuations were used in determining the value of surplus NHS sites to be transferred to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and from what date. [169124]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 27 April 2004]: The terms of the transfer will be informed by the market value of the sites involved. An independent valuation is

5 May 2004 : Column 1626W

underway to determine an overall value for the portfolio of sites. Sites will be physically transferred as and when they become vacant.

Thimerosal

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what vaccines used in the UK contain Thimerosal; [162711]

(2) when the use of Thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines was discontinued in the UK. [162712]

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the Government gave a commitment to phase out the use of thimerosal in whooping cough vaccine; [162205]

(2) for what reason whooping cough vaccine containing thimerosal is still being used in the United Kingdom; [162206]

(3) whether his Department has consulted (a) the US, (b) Japan, (c) Sweden, (d) Australia and (e) Spain as to the reasons why they have ceased using whooping cough vaccines containing thimerosal; [162207]

(4) when the Government plan to phase out thimerosal in whooping cough vaccine. [162208]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 18 March 2004]: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has written to manufacturers of vaccines used in the United Kingdom to alert them to the need to phase out the use of thiomersal in vaccines where possible. This follows advice from the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), endorsed by the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), to phase out use of thiomersal, wherever possible, as a precautionary recommendation aimed at limiting avoidable exposure to mercury compounds.

Manufacturers are actively developing research programmes to eliminate, substitute or reduce thiomersal in vaccines, and to develop new thiomersal-free vaccines. This may take time, because manufacturers need to ensure that thiomersal-free vaccines are safe and effective.

The UK currently uses a wholecell containing whooping cough vaccine (which contains thiomersal) because this vaccine offers the best protection against the disease. Whooping cough is a serious disease in young babies that can lead to death. Also, there is strong evidence that thiomersal in vaccines does not cause neurological damage to children and the CSM continues to advise that the balance of benefits and risks of thiomersal-containing vaccines is overwhelmingly positive. The UK will move to thiomersal-free vaccines when an equally effective alternative becomes available.

Other countries have moved to acellular whooping cough vaccines because they cause lower levels of adverse reactions, such as a sore arm, in older infants than wholecell vaccines. In the UK, this is not an issue, as babies receive the vaccine when they are young.

Thiomersal (also known as thimerosal) is present in the following childhood vaccines: the combined diptheria-tetanus-wholecell pertussis and Haemophilus Influenzae vaccine for

5 May 2004 : Column 1627W

primary immunisation and the combined diptheria/tetanus vaccine used for boosting teenagers. Details of the vaccines used in the childhood immunisation programme can be found in the national health service Factsheet, Thiomersal and vaccines.

Other vaccines that contain thiomersal are: Anthrax vaccine, some hepatitis A vaccines, some hepatitis B vaccines, some influenza vaccines and the diptheria-tetanus-wholecell pertussis vaccine.

The use of thiomersal in vaccines has not been discontinued in the United Kingdom. The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) recommended in 1999 that vaccine manufacturers phase out use of thiomersal wherever possible. This was a purely precautionary recommendation aimed at limiting avoidable exposure to mercury compounds. EMEA acknowledged that there was no evidence of harm caused by thiomersal in vaccines. The Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) endorsed this recommendation in 1999 and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation also supports the EMEA statement. There is strong evidence that thiomersal in vaccines does not cause neurological damage to children and the CSM continues to advise that the balance of benefits and risks of thiomersal-containing vaccines is overwhelmingly positive.

In line with the EMEA recommendation, manufacturers are actively developing research programmes to eliminate, substitute or reduce thiomersal in vaccines. This may take time because manufacturers are required to ensure that the replacement or elimination of thiomersal does not affect the safety or efficacy of the final vaccine.

Treatment Facilities (Manchester)

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many rapid access chest pain clinics there are in Manchester, Gorton. [167390]

Miss Melanie Johnson: A rapid access chest clinic is located at Manchester Royal Infirmary, part of the Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is a diagnostic and treatment centre in Manchester, Gorton. [167391]

Miss Melanie Johnson: There is no treatment centre in Gorton. A treatment centre is located at Withington Hospital, part of South Manchester University Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Manchester Gorton are receiving drug treatment. [167465]

Miss Melanie Johnson: In 2000–01, there were 3,652 people receiving drug treatment in Manchester. This is the latest available data. Data broken down by drug action team for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are currently being finalised.

Tuberculosis

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2004, Official

5 May 2004 : Column 1628W

Report, column 1700W, on tuberculosis, when the review of imported infections and immigration will be published. [169138]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 1334W.

Waiting Lists

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Heywood and Middleton with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last five years. [168490]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows how many and the percentage of suspected breast cancer patients, seen within two weeks of urgent referral by a general practitioner, at the Pennine Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust and its predecessor organisations for each quarter since the first quarter of 1999–2000. Earlier figures are not available.
Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected breast cancer following urgent GP referral

Quarter NHS Trust Percentage Number

1999–2000

1 Oldham NHS Trust 100.0 8

1 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 39.6 19

1 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 81.8 45

1 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 85.0 34

2 Oldham NHS Trust 100.0 n/a

2 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 64.1 25

2 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 90.6 29

2 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 97.1 66

3 Oldham NHS Trust 100.0 n/a

3 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 70.6 24

3 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 75.0 30

3 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 58

4 Oldham NHS Trust 100.0 22

4 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 88.69 32

4 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 94.5 52

4 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 64

2000–01

1 Oldham NHS Trust 88.9 32

1 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 84.1 37

1 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 98.7 74

1 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 98.7 74

2 Oldham NHS Trust 97.5 77

2 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 72

2 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 89.9 71

2 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 77

3 Oldham NHS Trust 93.8 76

3 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 77

3 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 93.9 77

3 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 93

4 Oldham NHS Trust 97.1 68

4 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 71

4 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 98.6 70

4 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 88

2001–02

1 Oldham NHS Trust 98.7 76

1 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 85

1 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 98.6 68

1 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 105

2 Oldham NHS Trust 98.7 75

2 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 95.9 71

2 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 91.3 94

2 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 93

3 Oldham NHS Trust 100.0 106

3 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 93

3 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 100.0 79

3 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 108

4 Oldham NHS Trust 100.0 84

4 Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 54

4 North Manchester Healthcare    NHS Trust 100.0 66

4 Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 107

2002–03

1 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 99.4 357

2 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 99.7 357

3 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 99.0 383

4 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 97.7 334

2003–04

1 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 98.0 389

2 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 98.1 366

3 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS    Trust 99.6 449

Note:
Where patient numbers are below six the Department of Health does not publish figures in order to avoid patients being identifiable due to low numbers. Where this would apply, the table above reads n/a.
Source:
Department of Health form QMCW.

5 May 2004 : Column 1629W

Quarter	NHS Trust	Percentage	Number
1999–2000
1	Oldham NHS Trust	100.0	8
1	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	39.6	19
1	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	81.8	45
1	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	85.0	34
2	Oldham NHS Trust	100.0	n/a
2	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	64.1	25
2	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	90.6	29
2	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	97.1	66
3	Oldham NHS Trust	100.0	n/a
3	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	70.6	24
3	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	75.0	30
3	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	58
4	Oldham NHS Trust	100.0	22
4	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	88.69	32
4	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	94.5	52
4	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	64
2000–01
1	Oldham NHS Trust	88.9	32
1	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	84.1	37
1	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	98.7	74
1	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	98.7	74
2	Oldham NHS Trust	97.5	77
2	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	72
2	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	89.9	71
2	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	77
3	Oldham NHS Trust	93.8	76
3	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	77
3	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	93.9	77
3	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	93
4	Oldham NHS Trust	97.1	68
4	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	71
4	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	98.6	70
4	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	88
2001–02
1	Oldham NHS Trust	98.7	76
1	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	85
1	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	98.6	68
1	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	105
2	Oldham NHS Trust	98.7	75
2	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	95.9	71
2	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	91.3	94
2	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	93
3	Oldham NHS Trust	100.0	106
3	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	93
3	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	79
3	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	108
4	Oldham NHS Trust	100.0	84
4	Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	54
4	North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	66
4	Bury Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	107
2002–03
1	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	99.4	357
2	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	99.7	357
3	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	99.0	383
4	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	97.7	334
2003–04
1	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	98.0	389
2	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	98.1	366
3	Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	99.6	449

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Warrington South with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in the last year. [168688]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information is not available in the format requested. The table shows the number and percentage of suspected cancer patients, seen within two weeks of urgent referral by a general

5 May 2004 : Column 1630W

practitioner, at the North Cheshire Hospital national health service trust and its predecessor organisations for each quarter since 1999–2000. Earlier figures are not available.
Waiting times for first consultant outpatient appointment for suspected cancer following urgent GP referral

Quarter NHS trust Percentage Number

1999–2000

1 Halton general hospital 89.3 25

1 Warrington hospital 96.3 105

2 Halton general hospital 80.0 8

2 Warrington hospital 91.2 103

3 Halton general hospital 97.4 37

3 Warrington hospital 86.2 81

4 Halton general hospital 100.0 30

4 Warrington hospital 96.9 94

2001–01

1 Halton general hospital 100.0 30

1 Warrington hospital 92.8 77

2 Halton general hospital 100.0 26

2 Warrington hospital 93.3 98

3 Halton general hospital 100.0 25

3 Warrington hospital 94.7 126

4 Halton general hospital 100.0 37

4 Warrington hospital 100.0 113

2001–02

1 North Cheshire hospital 95.2 159

2 North Cheshire hospital 89.0 195

3 North Cheshire hospital 95.8 137

4 North Cheshire hospital 92.6 162

2002–03

1 North Cheshire hospital 74.7 145

2 North Cheshire hospital 90.0 243

3 North Cheshire hospital 100.0 181

4 North Cheshire hospital 100.0 155

2003–04

1 North Cheshire hospital 100.0 184

2 North Cheshire hospital 100.0 141

3 North Cheshire hospital 100.0 169

Source:
Department of Health form QMCW.

Quarter	NHS trust	Percentage	Number
1999–2000
1	Halton general hospital	89.3	25
1	Warrington hospital	96.3	105
2	Halton general hospital	80.0	8
2	Warrington hospital	91.2	103
3	Halton general hospital	97.4	37
3	Warrington hospital	86.2	81
4	Halton general hospital	100.0	30
4	Warrington hospital	96.9	94
2001–01
1	Halton general hospital	100.0	30
1	Warrington hospital	92.8	77
2	Halton general hospital	100.0	26
2	Warrington hospital	93.3	98
3	Halton general hospital	100.0	25
3	Warrington hospital	94.7	126
4	Halton general hospital	100.0	37
4	Warrington hospital	100.0	113
2001–02
1	North Cheshire hospital	95.2	159
2	North Cheshire hospital	89.0	195
3	North Cheshire hospital	95.8	137
4	North Cheshire hospital	92.6	162
2002–03
1	North Cheshire hospital	74.7	145
2	North Cheshire hospital	90.0	243
3	North Cheshire hospital	100.0	181
4	North Cheshire hospital	100.0	155
2003–04
1	North Cheshire hospital	100.0	184
2	North Cheshire hospital	100.0	141
3	North Cheshire hospital	100.0	169

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been to NHS waiting list times in the last seven years for the residents of Manchester, Gorton. [167385]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
Patients waiting for elective in-patient admission

Patients waiting for admission by months waiting

Month-end Total number of patients waiting for admission Less than 3 months 3–5 months 6–8 months 9–11 months 12–14 months 15–17 months 18 + months

March 1997 Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 12,313 5,778 2,622 1,920 1,223 616 133 21

March 1997 Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 2,801 952 728 528 510 79 4 —

March 1998 Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 12,531 5,813 2,454 1,676 1,217 885 486 —

March 1998 Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 3,260 985 908 617 666 74 10 —

March 1999 Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 11,266 5,654 2,191 1,614 975 622 210 —

March 1999 Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 2,742 849 753 542 472 118 8 —

March 2000 Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 11,040 5,026 2,489 1,703 1,039 533 250 —

March 2000 Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 2,639 801 687 523 370 218 40 —

March 2001 Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 10,742 5,056 2,432 1,451 826 606 371 —

March 2001 Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 2,634 831 603 552 373 231 44 —

March 2002 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 13,213 6,028 3,333 2,136 1,216 500 — —

March 2003 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 10,822 5,605 2,832 1,701 684 0 0 0

February 2004 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 9,176 6,487 2,316 373 — — — —

Source:
DH form KH07 and Monthly Monitoring

5 May 2004 : Column 1631W

		Patients waiting for admission by months waiting
Month-end		Total number of patients waiting for admission	Less than 3 months	3–5 months	6–8 months	9–11 months	12–14 months	15–17 months	18 + months
March 1997	Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	12,313	5,778	2,622	1,920	1,223	616	133	21
March 1997	Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust	2,801	952	728	528	510	79	4	—
March 1998	Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	12,531	5,813	2,454	1,676	1,217	885	486	—
March 1998	Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust	3,260	985	908	617	666	74	10	—
March 1999	Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	11,266	5,654	2,191	1,614	975	622	210	—
March 1999	Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust	2,742	849	753	542	472	118	8	—
March 2000	Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	11,040	5,026	2,489	1,703	1,039	533	250	—
March 2000	Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust	2,639	801	687	523	370	218	40	—
March 2001	Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust	10,742	5,056	2,432	1,451	826	606	371	—
March 2001	Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust	2,634	831	603	552	373	231	44	—
March 2002	Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust	13,213	6,028	3,333	2,136	1,216	500	—	—
March 2003	Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust	10,822	5,605	2,832	1,701	684	0	0	0
February 2004	Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust	9,176	6,487	2,316	373	—	—	—	—

Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents in Manchester, Gorton awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital for quicker treatment in the last 12 months. [167388]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information is not collected centrally.

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