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19 May 2004 : Column 1019W—continued

Hospital Services/Investment

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the major investments at (a) Diana,
 
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Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby and (b) Scunthorpe Hospital since 1997, and the value of those investments. [172338]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table.
Major capital schemes at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals national health service trust since 1997

Year started	Description	£000
1998–99	C7 Enabling—DPOW	606
	Special Procedures & Fluoroscopy—DPOW	197
1999–2000	C Floor Ward Accommodation—DPOW	275
	CT Scanner & Building work—DPOW	422
2000–01	Maternity & Day Surgery Unit—DPOW	13,609
	Brumby—Scunthorpe	871
	Replacement Nurse Call System—DPOW	236
	New Substation & Generator—DPOW	377
	F&G Theatres Refurbishment—Scunthorpe	241
2001–02	A&E—Scunthorpe	833
	Refurbish Ward 16/17—Scunthorpe	431
	Additional Medical Beds—Scunthorpe	844
	Additional Medical Beds—DPOW	813
	Dermatology—Scunthorpe	368
	Laminar Flow—Scunthorpe	269
2002–03	Treatment Centre—Goole	2,800
	Child Development Centre—DPOW	641
	CT Scanner—Scunthorpe	505
	Pathology Modernisation	2,000
	Pathology IT	1,034
	HSDU Washers/Disinfectors—Scunthorpe	433
	Obstetric Theatre—Scunthorpe	238
	Main Electrical supply—Goole	305
2003–04	MAU—Ward 5—Scunthorpe	1,804
	Cardiology—DPOW	1,100
	Endoscopy—DPOW	1,730
Not yet started	Stroke Unit—DPOW	610
	A&E—DPOW	5,000
	Total	38,592

Notes:
DPOW—Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby.
Scunthorpe—Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Goole—Goole and District Hospital.
Source:
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust.

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were on (a) in-patient waiting lists and (b) day case waiting lists at (i) Diana, Princess of Wales hospital and (ii) Grimsby and Scunthorpe hospital in each year since 1997. [172339]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The requested information is not available for individual hospitals. Information for the relevant national health service trusts is shown in the tables.
In-patient waiting list figures for North East Lincolnshire NHS Trust (March 1996 March 2001), Scunthorpe and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust (March 1996 to March 2001)

	North East Lincolnshire NHS Trust			Scunthorpe and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust			Total
As at March each year	Day	Ord.	Total	Day	Ord.	Total	Day	Ord.	Total
1996	1,300	2,328	3,628	2,366	1,389	3,755	3,666	3,717	7,383
1997	2,121	3,580	5,701	3,253	2,210	5,463	5,374	5,790	11,164
1998	2,674	4,155	6,829	3,921	2,012	5,933	6,595	6,167	12,762
1999	1,995	3,263	5,258	3,100	1,450	4,550	5,095	4,713	9,808
2000	2,737	2,137	4,874	3,281	1,019	4,300	6,018	3,156	9,174
2001	2,430	2,008	4,438	2,646	905	3,551	5,076	2,913	7,989

 
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In-patient waiting list figures for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust (March 2002 to March 2004)

	Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust			Total
As at March each year	Day	Ord.	Total	Day	Ord.	Total
2002	5,606	2,377	7,983	5,606	2,377	7,983
2003	5,078	2,250	7,328	5,078	2,250	7,328
2004	1,967	4,669	6,636	1,967	4,669	6,636

Source:
Department of Health KH07.

Hospitals (Internet Access)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals which (a) have and (b) do not have access to broadband-enabled internet, broken down by (i) London boroughs, (ii) metropolitan boroughs, (iii) shire districts, (iv) unitary authorities, (v) shire counties and (vi) other local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the benefits of broadband connectivity to (A) patients and (B) hospital staff. [173097]

Mr. Hutton [holding answer 14 May 2004]: All acute trusts in England have broadband connections to the national health service national network. Information about the type of local authority organisation within which the trust is based is not collected.

A major part of the infrastructure programme is the implementation of the NHS national broadband network. This will provide the NHS with world class networking services, including secure broadband connectivity, for the future. The substantially enhanced bandwidth, intelligent network services and new network technologies will meet increasing demand and offer a range of new opportunities. It will enhance services and allow for the further development of remote centres, with increased access to specialist support.

The broadband network will provide access to the patient record in the various care locations, support on-site procedures and allow consistent access to knowledge for all clinicians. Care will be provided using telemedicine and telecare techniques in a wide range of locations, for example, minor injuries units, enhanced general practices and diagnostic and treatment centres. This will relieve acute trusts and accident and emergency departments by taking on investigations, treatment for minor injuries and procedures such as some day-case surgeries.

Improving Chronic Disease Programme

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the details of the Improving Chronic Disease Programme will be published. [171935]

Mr. Hutton: "Improving Chronic Disease Management" was published by the Department on 4 March, and signalled the start of an evolving programme to engage the national health service in adopting a more systematic approach to helping people with chronic conditions. More details were given to chief executives of strategic health authorities in a letter on 6 May, and this was followed by a conference on 18 May, and a series of regional workshops in June.

Internet Medicine Sales

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations have been made by (a) the
 
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Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency between April 2003 and 2004 and (b) the Medicines Control Agency for each year between 1997 and 2003 to internet service providers regarding websites (i) in breach of the law on the sale of unlicensed medicines via the internet and (ii) providing medicines without adequate patient consultations; and if he will list the websites in each case. [167806]

Ms Rosie Winterton: During the period 2003 to 2004, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made one representation to an internet service provider (ISP) involving the supply of unlicensed medicines via the internet without a United Kingdom registered medical practitioner's prescription. Initially compliance was achieved. However, the site is once again operating and is the subject of a new criminal investigation. Disclosure of the name of the site during the investigation could be prejudicial to any future prosecution action, and exemption four of the open government code of practice therefore applies.

During the period 1997 to 2003, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) made six representations to ISPs involving the supply of both licensed and unlicensed medicines via the internet. All six representations related to a study (by the MCA enforcement unit) in 1999. The specific details of individual sites have not been retained following their closure.

Investing in General Practice Initiative

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the £85,000 allocated to South Sefton Primary Care Trust to support the Investing in General Practice commitments will be spent. [170525]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information is not collected centrally. Following the introduction of the new general medical services contract, future decisions on how to prioritise health centre developments are the responsibility of local primary care trusts.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the £86,000 allocated to Southport and Formby Primary Care Trust to support the Investing in General Practice commitments will be spent. [170526]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Following the introduction of the new general medical services contract, future decisions on how to prioritise health centre developments are the responsibility of local primary care trusts.
 
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