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30 Jun 2004 : Column 331W—continued
Hospital Building
Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many new (a) general and (b) community hospitals have been opened in England in the last five years; [170181]
(2) how many new (a) general and (b) community hospital building projects are part of a private finance initiative procurement process in England; [170402]
(3) how many (a) general and (b) community hospitals are under construction in England. [170180]
Mr. Hutton: There is no central agreed definition of what constitutes a general or community hospital but for practical purposes schemes can be placed in one of three categories—general and acute, community, and mental health.
Currently there are 117 hospital schemes counting towards the NHS Plan target of 100 new hospital schemes by 2010. 107 will be built under the Private Finance Initiative. Of the 107, 38 are now operational of which 24 are general and acute, four community and 10 mental health. A further 22 are under construction of which 16 are general and acute, one community and five mental health. Of the 10 publicly procured schemes, six are now operational of which four are general and acute, one community and one mental health. Four are under construction of which three are general and acute and one community.
Inequalities in Health
Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the total number of recommendations contained in the Acheson Report on inequalities in health have been acted upon; in what way the recommendations have been acted upon; and if he will make a statement. [179873]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The Acheson Report has been influential in developing current policy on health inequalities through its evidence base and the encouragement it has given to action on a broad front
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across Government. The Government's latest statement on health inequalities is "Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action" (2003). It sets out details of progress to date and future work across Government in laying the foundations to meet the 2010 public service agreement target on reducing health inequalities in life expectancy and infant mortality. A progress report on health inequalities is planned for later this year.
An early interim assessment, "Reducing Health Inequalities: An Action Report", against the 39 main recommendations was published in 1999 alongside the "Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation" White Paper. This report and the programme for action are both available in the Library.
Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sub-groups of the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation are established; who their members are; what their respective programmes of work are; and whether they are expected to publish their conclusions. [178896]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Subgroups of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) are convened when required to investigate a particular issue on behalf of the committee. They enable additional specialist expertise to contribute to the issue. The work of a sub-group is defined by the main JCVI Committee. Subgroups report back to JCVI, and their work is covered in the JCVI minutes which are available on the Department's website at www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/jvci.
Mental Health
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England are receiving treatment for mental illness. [180610]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of unfinished in-patient provider spells in national health service hospitals where the patient was under the care of a mental illness consultant, by age and length of provider spell at 31March 2003 is shown in the table.
| England | Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age at 31 March 2003 | ||||||
| Length of provider spell at 31 March 2002 | All ages | 0–14 | 15–44 | 45–64 | 65–74 | 75 + |
| All durations | 29,050 | 150 | 12,000 | 6,650 | 3,500 | 6,700 |
| Under 6 months | 18,350 | 100 | 7,850 | 4,000 | 2,200 | 4,250 |
| 6 months—under 1 year | 3,250 | (14)— | 1,400 | 800 | 400 | 650 |
| 1 year—under 2 years | 2,700 | (14)— | 1,150 | 650 | 350 | 600 |
| 2 years—under 3 years | 1,900 | (14)— | 800 | 450 | 200 | 450 |
| 3 years—under 5 years | 1,300 | (14)— | 500 | 300 | 150 | 400 |
| 5 years and over | 1,500 | (14)— | 350 | 550 | 250 | 400 |
(14) Less than 50
Notes:
1. A provider spell is the length of time a patient is under the care of a particular provider.
2. These figures are derived from data obtained directly from trusts.
3. Figures may not add up due to rounding.
MRI Scanning
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to increase capacity for MRI scanning in the health area covering Redbridge and Waltham Forest; and if he will make a statement. [180449]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
After decades of underinvestment, there has been an unprecedented level of central capital funding provided to purchase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners since 2000. These programmes are providing over 160 new MRI scanners from 2000 to 2006, resulting in a 150 per cent.
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increase in the number of MRI scanners available to the national health service since 1997. The allocations of new MRI scanners have been agreed in conjunction with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and have been made to ensure equitable access to MRI services across the country.
One of the additional MRI scanners has been allocated to the Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust and is due for delivery at the end of 2004. This will increase the capacity for MRI scanning for patients living in the health area covering Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, announced on 8 April 2004 that a new five year deal with the independent sector is planned to allow an extra 80,000 MRI scans per year across the country through the use of mobile units.
Multiple Limb Disability
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many individuals in England have congenital multiple limb disability; [179073]
(2) what plans he has to provide a multidisciplinary centre for congenital multiple limb disability sufferers incorporating orthopaedic and rehabilitation services;. [179074]
(3) what specialist medical facilities exist to support those with congenital multiple limb disability;. [179093]
(4) what the procedures in the NHS are for referring patients with multiple limb disability to the Ex-Centre in Stockholm for assessment;. [179095]
(5) how many UK patients have been referred through the NHS to the Ex-Centre in Stockholm for multiple limb disability. [179096]
Dr. Ladyman: Figures on how many individuals in England have congenital multiple limb disability are not collected centrally, although the Department is aware that there are 455 individuals currently being supported in the United Kingdom by the Thalidomide Trust. Also, the Department recorded 18,910 finished admission episodes in national health service hospitals in England in 2002–03 relating to congenital malformations and deformations of the musculoskeletal system. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
It is for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of prosthetic limbs. Prosthetic services are delivered to patients through 33 disablement service centres in England. Patients normally attend their local centre, but can attend another if they wish. If an overseas option is considered, it would be for the local PCT commissioning team to agree that. Figures on how many UK patients have been referred through the NHS
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to the Ex-Centre in Stockholm for multiple limb disability are not collected centrally. Prosthetic limbs are provided free of charge to single or multiple prosthetic limb users by the NHS. The NHS has available to it, via contracts negotiated by the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, virtually everything that is available on the international market. Furthermore, local healthcare professionals have the ability to obtain products from outside of the current national agreement if it is deemed appropriate for the specific needs of particular patients.
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