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25 May 2004 : Column 1605W—continued

Osteoporosis

Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and treatment is offered to those patients who are identified as being at high risk of developing osteoporosis. [173541]

 
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Dr. Ladyman: Patients identified as being at high risk of developing osteoporosis should be given advice on diet, exercise, avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol and reducing smoking. There are a range of treatment options which aim to provide pain relief, improve mobility and prevent further bone loss.

Palliative Care

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has for progressing the partnership between his Department, Marie Curie Cancer Care and other voluntary organisations in the field of palliative care with particular reference to (a) improving services for people who choose to die at home and (b) increasing the number of people who are able to die at home; [174395]

(2) what action he is taking to increase the number of terminally ill patients who are able to exercise their choice to die at home; [174396]

(3) what further plans he has for supporting choice in palliative care for cancer patients to meet the commitment given in the recent document, Building the Best: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS; [174397]

(4) what assessment he has made of the potential savings to the NHS if more terminally ill people were given the choice of dying at home. [174621]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 20 May 2004]: Building on the Best commits the Department to improve care for people coming to the end of their lives by taking forward training programmes to ensure that all patients, regardless of their diagnosis, will have access to high quality palliative care.

An additional total of £12 million investment over three years was announced by the Secretary of State on 26 December 2003. This additional money will widen the pool of staff who are trained in meeting the needs of people nearing the end of their lives. As a result more patients will be offered appropriate support in the setting of their choice.

The cancer services collaborative is currently working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Relief, Marie Curie Cancer Care and Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network to support the implementation of specific end of life care tools. These tools, recommended in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on supportive and palliative care for adults with cancer as examples of good practice, will be adapted to meet the needs of other patient groups.

Over time this investment will result in greater choice for patients in where they wish to live and die and a decrease in the numbers of older people transferred from care homes to a district general hospital in the last week of life and emergency admissions of patients who expressly wish to die at home or care home.

We are also currently identifying pilots to develop an integrated cancer care model for cancer patients shaped by users and involving health and social services and the voluntary sector. These pilots will specifically address issues about caring for patients at home and the possible reduction of costs of hospital services.
 
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Personal Health Care

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what arrangements are in place to review cases to ensure that individuals are not incorrectly charged for personal health care; [173912]

(2) what the criteria are for initiating an investigation into cases of individuals incorrectly charged for personal health care; [173940]

(3) how many cases are being investigated of individuals who may have been incorrectly charged for personal health care in each local authority in England in each of the last six years. [174036]

Dr. Ladyman: The Continuing Care (National Health Service Responsibilities) Directions and the Delayed Discharges (Continuing Care) Directions, both published in February, should ensure appropriate assessments for fully funded national health service continuing care, whether it is prior to hospital discharge or in a community setting. All strategic health authorities have systems in place to review cases where individuals, or their families, feel they were inappropriately denied fully funded NHS continuing care and will investigate all cases brought to their attention. Information on the number of people who were wrongly denied NHS care since 1996 will be available once the data have been validated.

Positron Emission Tomography Scanners

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of positron emission tomography scanners in the early diagnosis of lung cancer; and if he will make a statement; [175706]

(2) what assessment he has made of the demand for positron emission tomography scans in the NHS; [175707]

(3) what plans he has to increase the number of positron emission tomography scanners in the NHS. [175708]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Positron emission tomography (PET) is still a relatively new technology and there is evidence of its potential benefits in the diagnosis and treatment of a limited number of tumours, including lung cancer.

The Department is currently working with the national health service, the clinical community and research stakeholders to develop a framework for the provision of PET scanners in England. This will set out, from the evidence, which tumour groups would benefit from PET scanning, likely future demand, and consider the optimal configuration and possible location of PET scanners in England. This will be sent out to stakeholders for consultation in early summer.

It will be for local health communities to consider the framework when it is published and decide whether to adopt this technology based on local needs and circumstances.

Primary Care Trusts (Non-Clinical Staff)

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many non-clinical staff were employed in each primary care trust in England at September 2003, broken down by grade. [173090]

 
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Mr. Hutton: Information on the number of staff employed by primary care trusts in non-clinical roles has been placed in the Library.

Public Bodies

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times a year the board of the NHS Information Authority is scheduled to meet; and on what date it last met. [175393]

Mr. Hutton: The NHS Information Authority (NHSIA) is a National Health Service Special Health Authority. Its board meets monthly. The most recent meeting was on 6 May at the NHSIA offices in Birmingham. Board papers are published on the NHSIA website at www.nhsia.nhs.uk.

The next meeting of the board will take place on 3 June 2004 at Grange Holborn Hotel, Southampton Row, London, at 2pm. In accordance with the NHS code of openness, board meetings are open to the public.

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 12, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17 and (h) 18 years have suffered from each sexually transmitted infection in each of the last three years. [172865]

Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many sexually transmitted infections were reported in young people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in England in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; and if he will make a statement; [174501]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in young people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 in England was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; and if he will make a statement; [174502]

(3) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years there were in each year since 2000, broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement; [174526]

(4) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) strategic health authority, (ii) disease and (iii) sex; and if he will make a statement. [174527]

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [174458]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [174483]
 
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(3) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Essex Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [174576]

(4) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were in the Essex Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [174586]

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease and (b) sex; [174507]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease and (b) sex; [174508]

(3) ow many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Essex Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease and (b) sex; [174514]

(4) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [174515]

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [174954]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [174955]

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [175384]

(2) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [175385]

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16,
 
25 May 2004 : Column 1610W
 
(g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [175626]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in the Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [175627]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 17 May 2004]: I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends, the Members for Workington (Tony Cunningham) and Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) today.

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in West Cumbria Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [175424]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were in the West Cumbria Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [175518]

(3) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [175519]

(4) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [175520]

Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people of 19 years and under were reported in Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age; [175764]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people of 19 years and under was in Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age; [175765]

(3) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections were reported in people 19 years and under in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age; [175789]

(4) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people 19 years and under was in each year since 2000, broken down by (a) disease, (b) sex and (c) age. [175790]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The available information on rates of sexually transmitted infections in the age groups requested has been placed in the Library.
 
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The national strategy for sexual health and HIV (linking closely to the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy) identifies young people as a priority group for action to improve sexual health. The Government's 'Sex Lottery' and teenage pregnancy, 'Ruthinking' media campaigns are raising awareness among young people of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and how to avoid them. The Department is also tackling the most common STI through the national chlamydia screening programme, which already covers a quarter, or 84, of primary care trusts in England and is being rolled-out across the rest of the country. Sexual health has also been highlighted as an important area in the "Choosing Health" public health White Paper consultation, launched on 3 March.

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years were reported in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex; [174888]

(2) what the prevalence rate of reported cases of sexually transmitted infections in people aged (a) 11, (b) 12, (c) 13, (d) 14, (e) 15, (f) 16, (g) 17, (h) 18 and (i) 19 years was in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in each year since 2000, broken down by (i) disease and (ii) sex. [174889]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Workington (Tony Cunningham) and Heywood and Middleton (Jim Dobbin) today.

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