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14 Jun 2004 : Column 688W—continued
Microwaves
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated to ascertain whether there is leakage of (a) dioxins, (b) carcinogens and (c) xenoestrogens when microwaving food in plastic containers. [177480]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government's research programme into the migration of substances from food contact materials and articles in the specific area of plastic containers used in microwave ovens has included work to establish methodologies for determining such migration; and to establish actual migration of some specific substances within the groups of substances in question.
Details of this research has been placed in the Library. Further information is available on the Food Standards Agency website at www.foodstandards.gov.uk/safety/foodpackaging.
Mixed-Sex Wards (London)
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the hospitals in the Greater London area which use mixed-sex wards. [177826]
Mr. Hutton: The information is not available in the format requested. The Department does not collect information on the number of either single sex or mixed sex wards in use in national health service hospitals.
Guidance issued to NHS trusts on the achievement of the Department's single sex accommodation objectives made it clear that a variety of ward layouts and designs can be used to deliver separate sleeping accommodation, including the use of single sex wards, or combinations of single sex bays and individual rooms. Single sex bays, together with increasing numbers of single rooms, are common features of modern hospital design both here and abroad and can provide acceptable levels of privacy and dignity.
Multi-disciplinary Teams
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training is provided for NHS staff on how to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. [177880]
Mr. Hutton
[holding answer 10 June 2004]: We are committed to working with partners in education, statutory and professional bodies to develop programmes of inter-professional and common learning through which different health and social care professionals can learn together and from each other. There are a number of current successful programmes in undergraduate and pre-registration education and for qualified staff, which are designed to help national health service staff work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams.
14 Jun 2004 : Column 689W
NHS Treatment Statistics
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many out-patients were treated in the NHS in England in each year from 1991 to 2003. [178888]
Mr. Hutton: The following table shows the first, subsequent and total out-patient attendances in the national health service in England for the years 1991–92 to 2002–03.
| First attendances | Subsequent attendances | Total attendances | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | 8,941,526 | 27,952,184 | 36,893,710 |
| 1992–93 | 9,342,280 | 28,184,758 | 37,527,038 |
| 1993–94 | 9,680,593 | 28,519,690 | 38,200,283 |
| 1994–95 | 10,362,877 | 28,942,923 | 39,305,800 |
| 1995–96 | 10,989,334 | 29,128,357 | 40,117,691 |
| 1996–97 | 11,294,069 | 29,578,700 | 40,872,769 |
| 1997–98 | 11,529,432 | 30,105,837 | 41,635,269 |
| 1998–99 | 11,777,780 | 30,376,617 | 42,154,397 |
| 1999–2000 | 12,136,405 | 30,904,294 | 43,040,699 |
| 2000–01 | 12,466,233 | 31,103,107 | 43,569,340 |
| 2001–02 | 12,713,988 | 31,294,374 | 44,008,362 |
| 2002–03 | 13,032,192 | 31,565,368 | 44,597,560 |
Source:
Department of Health form KH09.
Nurses' Pay (London)
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average weekly earnings of a qualified nurse working in a hospital in the Greater London area. [177827]
Mr. Hutton: The information necessary to make an estimate is not collected centrally.
Nursing Homes
Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the decision by the Office of Fair Trading not to include the impact of local authorities' purchasing power on the financial viability of nursing homes in its investigation into nursing homes. [178140]
14 Jun 2004 : Column 690W
Dr. Ladyman: The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) operates independently from Government under clear terms of reference and associated powers. It is for the OFT and its board to decide what it will and will not investigate.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will reply to question reference 176394 tabled by the hon. Member for Billericay. [178860]
Mr. Hutton: I replied to the hon. Member today.
Primary Care Trust Funding
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average sum allocated to primary care trusts in England (a) per unweighted head of population and (b) per weighted head of population was in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05. [178182]
Mr. Hutton: The average sum allocated to primary care trusts in England per head of population, weighted and unweighted, was 916 for 2003–04 and 1,003 for 2004–05.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the funding allocations (a) per unweighted head of population and (b) per weighted head of population for 2004–05 for each primary care trust in England. [178183]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Radiographers
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) headcount and (b) whole-time equivalent (i) diagnostic and (ii) therapeutic radiographers have been employed by the NHS in each year since 1997, broken down by (A) region, (B) strategic health authority and (C) NHS trust. [176751]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested has been placed in the Library. Between September 1997 and 2003, the number of radiographers employed in the national health service has increased by 1,573, or 13 per cent.
14 Jun 2004 : Column 691W
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) headcount and (b) whole-time equivalent NHS vacancies there were for (i) diagnostic and (ii) therapeutic radiographers in each year since 1997 (A) in total and (B) broken down by positions vacant for (1) 0–3 months, (2) 3–6 months, (3) 6–9 months, (4) 9–12 months, (5) 12–15 months, (6) 15–18 months and (7) over 18 months. [176753]
Mr. Hutton: The only information held centrally on vacancies is numbers of whole-time equivalent vacancies lasting three months or more. Information on the number of whole-time equivalent radiographer vacancies lasting three months or more since 1999, the first year vacancy information was collected centrally, are shown in the table.
(10) 1999 vacancy survey is unable to split between diagnostic and therapeutic radiography staff.
Three month vacancy notes:
1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each specified year.
2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
3. Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff-in-post.
4. For 2002 and 2003 three month Vacancy Rates are calculated using staff-in-post from the Vacancy Survey.
5. For earlier years three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff-in-post from the non-medical workforce census the previous September.
6. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
7. Figures for 1999–2002 exclude health authority staff.
Staff-in-post notes:
1. Staff-in-post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September each specified year.
General notes:
1. Vacancy and staff-in-post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
Sources:
Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March each specified year.
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census, September each specified year.
14 Jun 2004 : Column 693W
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 19 April 2004, Official Report, column 221W, on radiographers, what action his Department is taking towards developing an attractive career path for radiography staff. [176755]
Mr. Hutton: The national radiography recruitment and retention strategy will encourage the national roll-out of a new career escalator model for radiographers, building on the knowledge and skills framework of 'Agenda for Change'. This will enable individuals to step on or step off the escalator during their careers, until they reach a level which is appropriate for them and their service. There will be opportunities to practice from assistant right through to consultant practitioner level. With the implementation of the 'Improving Working Lives' standard, there is greater opportunity for radiographers to work flexibly, access childcare and still extend and progress their roles.
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