| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
8 Jun 2004 : Column 359W—continued
Asthma
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital episodes there were where the primary diagnosis was asthma, using the International Classification of Disease 10 codes J45-J46, in each year since 1996 (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) health authority and (ii) age. [177477]
Dr. Ladyman: Figures for admitted patient care finished consultant episodes held by the hospital episodes statistics data warehouse for 1996–97 to 2002–03, broken down by health authority of residence and age, have been placed in the Library.
Care Home Closures
Mr. Benton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he issues to local authorities on criteria to be satisfied before a decision is taken to close a care home; if he will assess the extent to which the criteria were satisfied in the recent decision by Sefton Council to close Connolly House and Linacre Grange, Bootle; if he will re-examine the criteria; and if he will ask Sefton Council to reconsider its decision. [171748]
8 Jun 2004 : Column 360W
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 10 May 2004]: Local councils are responsible for arranging and delivering services that will meet the assessed needs of their local populations. It is for each council to decide which services they should provide in order to meet those needs. In so doing, they are under an obligation to act reasonably.
If it becomes necessary to close a care home, councils, acting both as commissioners and providers, should seek to achieve this in a planned way. There are a number of court decisions which set out the nature of councils' obligations towards residents in care homes which councils must have regard to. One of these obligations is to consult residents on any proposed closure.
The Government are concerned that any decision to close a home is handled as sensitively and appropriately as possible, but are limited in the extent to which they can intervene in local decisions. Councils are obliged to comply with statutory obligations and relevant case law. When a home does have to close, the essential thing is that proper arrangements are made for the safe and satisfactory transfer of all residents to other suitable homes. There should be adequate time for this to be done, in a way that allows both residents and their relatives a choice in where they are to move to and which creates the minimum possible discomfort to all concerned.
The Secretary of State does not intervene in decisions of this nature at local level. The relevant legislation and the Secretary of State's Approvals and Directions set out the extent of council's obligations to provide services to persons in their area. The council has statutory obligations to meet the needs of any residents it has placed in these homes, and if the homes are closed, it must ensure that those obligations are fulfilled in some other way. It must also comply with its obligations to consult all residents and to take into account their views. It is a matter for all councils to ensure that they comply with their legal obligations. If they do not, this may be challenged through local complaints procedures, the commissioner for local administration, and through the courts.
Carers
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers have had their needs assessed (a) in the North West and (b) in Warrington since the introduction of such assessment. [176410]
Dr. Ladyman: The table shows the number of carers who have been assessed in the North West and Warrington for the years 2000–01 to 2002–03.
Data for previous years is not available.
| North West 2 | Warrington | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 31,820 | 250 |
| 2001–02 | 40,440 | 260 |
| 2002–03 | 34,860 | 720 |
(19) Care should be taken when comparing data across the years as recording practices, levels of completion and quality may have changed.
(20) Includes estimates for missing data.
Source:
RAP form A4.
8 Jun 2004 : Column 361W
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which primary care trusts have taken steps to ensure that the services recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care are provided to patients in their area; and if he will make a statement; [176550]
(2) what progress has been made in the implementation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary and secondary care since the guidelines were published; and if he will make a statement; [176551]
(3) what steps he will take to ensure primary care trusts implement National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommendations within a three-month period; and if he will make a statement. [176552]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answers 7 June 2004]: Information is not available centrally on the steps taken by individual primary care trusts to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline.
The Healthcare Commission will inspect against healthcare standards. The healthcare standards were published on 10 February 2004 and were out for consultation until 4 May. NICE guidance features at two places within the standards. Within the core standards (under clinical and cost effectiveness, NICE appraisals are included; and under the developmental standards, NICE clinical guidelines are shown. The developmental standards are aspirational and for the NHS to implement over a longer period of time.
National health service bodies are under a statutory obligation to provide funding for drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance within three months of publication. This obligation does not apply to the clinical guideline on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Continuing Care
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date information will be made available from the review of NHS continuing care in nine strategic health authorities; and if he will make a statement. [177562]
Dr. Ladyman: The Department is currently considering the report of the review of national health service continuing care in nine strategic health authorities. The report itself will be published in due course.
Doctors' Language Tests
Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has given to hospital trusts on training of overseas doctors in English language skills. [177463]
8 Jun 2004 : Column 362W
Mr. Hutton: The Department's guidance, "Health Service Circular 1999/137: Employment of European Economic Area (EEA) Nationals", which is available in the Library, makes clear that it is the responsibility of employers to ensure that all staff have the necessary language skills to carry out their duties safely, regardless of which country they come from.
Dr. Andrew Holton
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been set aside by his Department in relation to (a) compensation payments to and (b) possible legal costs incurred by patients or patients' families and next of kin in response to claims arising out of treatment by Doctor Andrew Holton, a former consultant paediatrician at Leicester Royal Infirmary. [177471]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The National Health Service Litigation Agency is dealing with all negligence claims as a result of the actions of Dr. Andrew Holton.
Detailed information about these claims is confidential and as such its disclosure could be prejudicial to the outcome of the current cases.
Bamford Inquiry
Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the findings of (a) his Department's regional office inquiry commissioned by Professor Lindsay Davies and chaired by Dr. Margaret Bamford, (b) the General Medical Council's investigation and (c) the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust inquiry into the professional conduct of and treatment of his patients by Dr. Andrew Holton with particular reference to (i) the independence of the inquiry teams and (ii) their prior knowledge of or professional connections with Dr. Holton and his work; and if he will make a statement; [177472]
(2) what assessment he has made of the evidence given to the Bamford Inquiry by Dr. Mark Anthony Edgar; and if he will make a statement. [177473]
Dr. Ladyman [holding answer 7 June 2004]: The independent inquiry panel members were chosen specifically because they had no connection with this issue, Dr. Holton's practice or the geographical area. The local clinical investigation involved independent experts from the British Paediatric Neurology Association.
It would be inappropriate to comment on the General Medical Council's investigations of Dr. Holton's professional competence. Ministers are not able to comment on the clinical competence of individual practitioners.
Conclusions drawn from evidence provided by individual witnesses is the responsibility of the inquiry panel. It would not be appropriate to comment on any evidence submitted as part of the inquiry.
8 Jun 2004 : Column 363W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |