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6 Jul 2004 : Column 608W—continued
Breast Cancer
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into male breast cancer in the last 10 years. [181314]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has not directly commissioned research specifically related to the causes or treatment of male breast cancer.
Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research, including cancer, is devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual projects, including some concerned with male breast cancer, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.
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Children's Continence Services
Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent assessment he has made of the provision of children's continence services; [182065]
(2) what plans he has to provide further directions to primary care trusts on providing integrated continence services for children. [182066]
Dr. Ladyman: The publication of the Royal College of Nursing/Continence Foundation document, "Is policy translated into action", provides a helpful overview of where and how services have improved, and also the scope for further improvement.
We will shortly introduce the children's national service framework, which will outline what support should be available to children and their parents in managing a range of conditions. In doing so, it will highlight evidence-based clinical guidelines, such as "Good Practice in Continence Services", which identifies the need to provide integrated continence services for children.
Community Hospitals
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to primary care trusts about the services offered at community hospitals. [182520]
Mr. Hutton: "The New NHS", published in 1997, set out a vision for the national health service and for primary care trusts (PCTs) as a key driver to improve health and make the NHS modern and dependable.
This was followed by two key guidance documents: "Primary Care Trusts: Establishing Better Services" and "Primary Care Trusts: Establishment, the Preparatory Period and Their Function". Since then, a number of guidance documents have been issued on PCT establishment, functions, membership, governance, commissioning, finance and services. These documents do not specifically give guidance on the services offered at community hospitals.
PCTs are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and securing services to meet those needs. PCTs are free to commission care from wherever they can obtain the best services for patients.
PCTs will need to have detailed first hand knowledge of hospital and community care services within their area and a clear view of the needs of their local community to plan and secure a full range of services for their population.
Correspondence
John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will respond to the issues raised by the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead in his letters of 17 March 2004 and meeting with the Minister of State on 8 March 2004; and if he will make a statement. [179563]
Mr. Hutton:
I replied to my hon. Friend on 18 April. I have placed a copy of the letter in the Library.
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Cosmetic Surgery
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures have been taken to set up a single register of surgeons trained and qualified in cosmetic surgery; and if he will make a statement; [181203]
(2) what steps have been taken to ensure that all surgeons practicing cosmetic surgery have a cosmetic surgery qualification; and if he will make a statement. [181204]
Mr. Hutton: In order to practise surgery of any kind as an independent practitioner all doctors must be appropriately registered and qualified, in accordance with the National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 when working in the NHS, and the Care Standards Act 2000 when working in the independent sector.
There is no recognised specialist qualification in cosmetic surgery. It forms part of the approved training in plastic surgery. The decision on whether to accept a new specialist qualification rests with the Secretary of State. In making that decision, he will consult and be advised by the specialist training authority of the medical royal colleges, which is responsible for approving the curriculum of any course of training leading to the award of a certificate of completion of specialist training, which is the normal route for entry to the specialist register.
European Union (Health Care)
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what Government policy is regarding an enhanced role for the European Union in health care. [179119]
Mr. Hutton: The organisation and delivery of health services and medical care and definition of health policy is a matter for member states. This position was confirmed by the 25 European Union member states during the recent intergovernmental conference. However, there are situations where information sharing and increased cooperation between member states on healthcare is beneficial. Where this is appropriate we will support such measures.
Fall/Osteoporosis Services
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons he asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to undertake a technology appraisal of fallers' clinics. [181438]
Dr. Ladyman: We considered that a technology appraisal in this area might identify benefits to patients and reduce pressures on the national health service. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is also developing a clinical guideline in this area.
Genetically Modified Crops
Andrew George:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2003, Official Report, column 596W, on GM crops, what (a) notice and (b) formal communication the Food Standards Agency gave to his Department of its intention to support the approval of the application of
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the use of Bt11 GM maize in food at the EC Standing Committee for the food chain and animal health meeting on 8 December 2003. [179971]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The United Kingdom policy supporting the approval of Bt11 genetically modified maize was agreed across Government. Government Departments were given good time to contribute their views before the meeting of the Standing Committee on 8 December.
Green Ministers
Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what work his Department's Green Minister has undertaken in the last three months in that role. [165444]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department is a key player in supporting the Government's objective of building a fair, inclusive and economically thriving society through improving and protecting the health and social well being of the people of England. Sustainable development is an intrinsic part of this aim.
As the Department's Green Minister, I have a number of responsibilities which help underpin sustainable development goals. These include health inequalities,
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healthy eating, for example, five-a-day and physical activity, such as the activity co-ordination team. My on-going portfolio of work in these and other areas actively contributes to the delivery of sustainable development. Further details of the Department's work in these areas can be found on the Department's website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocial CareTopics/fs/en.
The results of the Department's recent public health consultation, "Choosing Health", will also feed into a White Paper to be published later this year, which will make an important contribution to the sustainable development agenda.
Health Services (Derby, North)
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Derby, North in each of the last seven years. [181164]
Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is not collected and validated on a constituency basis. However, information for the national health service organisations serving the Derby, North constituency is shown in the tables.
| All doctors(1) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Central Derby(1) | — | — | 54 | 54 | — | — | — |
| Greater Derby Primary Care Trust (PCT)(1) | — | — | — | — | 85 | (2)86 | (3)91 |
| Central Derby PCT(1) | — | — | — | — | 63 | (4)76 | (5)82 |
| Derby City General Hospital(6) | 147 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Derbyshire Royal Infirmary(6) | 219 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust(6) | — | 379 | 387 | 386 | 420 | 443 | 477 |
(1) PCT figures are general medical practitioners (excluding retainers).
(2) Includes one hospital public health medicine and community services (HCS) doctor.
(3) Includes three hospital and community health (HCH) doctors.
(4) Includes 13 HCH doctors.
(5) Includes 16 HCH doctors.
(6) Trust figures are hospital and community health services doctors.
| Nurses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | |
| Central Derby PCT(8) | — | — | 37 | 41 | — | — | — |
| Greater Derby PCT(8) | — | — | — | — | 225 | 252 | 266 |
| Central Derby PCT(8) | — | — | — | — | 147 | 226 | 222 |
| Derby City General Hospital(9) | 769 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Derbyshire Royal Infirmary(9) | 724 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust(9) | — | 1,470 | 1,503 | 1,542 | 1,633 | 1,770 | 1,887 |
(7) UPEs include general medical service unrestricted principals, personal medical service contracted general practitioners.
(8) Figures are qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff.
(9) Figures are qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff.
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