House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 May 2004 (pt 53)

10 May 2004 : Column 192W—continued

University Medical Training

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government is taking to increase the number of British university trained (a) doctors and (b) nurses in the NHS. [167730]

Mr. Hutton: We have invested significantly both in the national health service and higher education. The medical school intake in England has increased by more than 2,250 since 1997, an increase of over 60 per cent., and, as a result, we have exceeded the autumn 2005 intake target two years early. We have created four new

10 May 2004 : Column 193W

medical schools, opened four new centres of medical education, three of which are associated with established medical schools, significantly increased the capacity of most other medical schools and introduced graduate-entry four-year courses.

There has been an increase of almost 8,000 nurses and midwives entering pre-registration training between 1996–97 and 2002–03, a 53 per cent, increase. Latest figures suggest a further increase of around 1,800 nurses and midwives entering pre-registration training in 2003–04.

Responsibility for Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland universities and numbers of students in undergraduate medical and nursing pre-registration training is a matter for the devolved administrations.

10 May 2004 : Column 194W

MRI Scans

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for an MRI scan in each strategic health authority was for each year since 1997. [167710]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Data on waiting times for diagnostic tests, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, are not collected centrally.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Burnley with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last five years. [167957]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not collected on a constituency basis. The information shown in the table relates to the National Health Service organisations serving the Burnley area.
Waiting times for 1st consultant outpatient appointment for suspected breast cancer following urgent GP referral

Seen within two weeks

NHS Trust Percentage Number

1999–2000 Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 82.6 19

1999–2000 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 10

2000–01 Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 96.2 50

2000–01 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 53

2001–02 Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 100.0 84

2001–02 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 89

2002–03 Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust 100.0 84

2002–03 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 100.0 114

2003–04 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 100.0 209

Note:
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was formed from the merger of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust and Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust on 1 April 2003.
Source:
DH Form QMCW

		Seen within two weeks
	NHS Trust	Percentage	Number
1999–2000	Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust	82.6	19
1999–2000	Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	10
2000–01	Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust	96.2	50
2000–01	Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	53
2001–02	Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust	100.0	84
2001–02	Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	89
2002–03	Blackburn Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust	100.0	84
2002–03	Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust	100.0	114
2003–04	East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust	100.0	209

Wanless Report

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds will be made available to implement the Wanless Report recommendations. [169271]

Mr. Hutton: In his 2002 budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, accepted the conclusions of the report and announced an historic five-year settlement for the national health service, which represented a real terms increase in spending of 7.3 per cent. a year from 2003–04 to 2007–08. This will take total NHS expenditure to over £90 billion by 2007–08.

Warrington Hospital

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advances have been made in coronary care in Warrington Hospital since 1997; and what further plans are in progress. [168706]

Miss Melanie Johnson: In June 2002, 24 people were waiting over nine months for heart surgery in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority area. Today, no-one is waiting for over nine months. Warrington coronary care unit will be relocated to the accident and emergency department in June to provide an improved pathway for patients. Warrington Hospital will benefit also from a new cardiac catheterisation laboratory that is being jointly funded by the New Opportunities Fund and the Department of Health.

Source:

Department of Health and North Cheshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust.

Whooping Cough Vaccine

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS is able to provide mercury-free whooping cough vaccine for babies in the UK. [167768]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The United Kingdom 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. The acellular whooping cough vaccine (which is thiomersal-free) does not provide the same high level of protection. The UK will move to thiomersal-free vaccines as soon as an equally effective alternative to the current vaccine becomes available.