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8 Jul 2004 : Column 797W—continued

Alcohol

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of cases presented at accident and emergency units in the last 12 months involved alcohol as a causal factor. [182486]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect the information requested.

Arm's Length Bodies

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the £500 million he has authorised to be transferred from arm's length bodies will be spent. [182407]

Ms Rosie Winterton: We intend to publish a report on the review of arm's length bodies later this month.

Clinical Trials

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the clinical trials on adult users, whose findings have so far been examined as part of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Committee on Safety of Medicines review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, were completed in each of the periods (a) 1985 to 1989, (b) 1990 to 1994, (c) 1995 to 1999 and (d) 2000 to 2004. [179576]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Committee on Safety of Medicines expert working group on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has so far examined trials in adult users involving paroxetine. The following table indicates the number of trials of adult use of paroxetine which were completed in each of the time periods specified.

	Number
1985–89	67
1990–94	38
1995–99	27
2000–04	14

 
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The review of other SSRIs is continuing and the working group's report will be published later this year.

Cosmetic Treatments

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with what bodies he requires practitioners working in clinics offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments to be registered; and if he will make a statement. [181196]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.

There is no requirement for practitioners to be registered with a particular body but HABIA—the standards setting body for the industry—recommend that they are qualified and a member of an appropriate professional body.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines for safe practice his Department offers to clinics that offer non-surgical cosmetic treatments; and if he will make a statement. [181197]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.

HABIA the standard setting body for the industry produces Health and Safety Implementation Packs for hairdressing and beauty therapy which cover the legislation that affects the industry.

HABIA, in conjunction with the industry and stakeholders, such as health practitioners, develops National Occupational Standards (NOS). These define the competence needed to perform tasks and take account of health and safety requirements. Standards have been developed into qualifications and can also be used in job descriptions, staff appraisal, induction and training.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations exist to protect customers of clinics that offer non-surgical cosmetic treatments; and if he will make a statement. [181198]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.

Legislation applicable to the industry includes the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Act 1989.

Removal of hair using light or laser systems and carrying out photo rejuvenation is covered by the Care Standards Act 2003. To epilate the hair follicle using diathermy, galvanic and blend techniques falls under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. Providing massage and ultra-violet tanning treatments is covered by local bye-laws in some parts of the UK.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what inspections have been undertaken by (a) the National Care Standards Commission and (b) the Healthcare Commission into cosmetic surgery clinics; and if he will publish the results; [181199]

(2) what action his Department has taken in response to the recommendations made in the National Care Standards Commission report on cosmetic surgery (a) that clinics be inspected annnually and (b) that internal auditing be organised within each clinic and reported to the National Care Standards Commission every six months; and if he will make a statement; [181205]
 
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(3) what steps have been taken following the Chief Medical Officer's response to the National Care Standards Commission report on an inspection of cosmetic surgery clinics that he wanted to initiate a full review of cosmetic surgery practice across England; [181206]

(4) what plans his Department has to conduct a review of cosmetic surgery practice; and if he will make a statement. [181207]

Dr. Ladyman: Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), has established an expert group to review the regulation of cosmetic surgery in England. The group is considering all relevant issues and will take into account all available evidence, including two reports on cosmetic surgery establishments published in February and June 2003 and a report proposing improved inspection methodology published in April 2003, by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). The expert group is due to report to the CMO in the summer.

The regulator, previously the NCSC and now the Healthcare Commission, is responsible for publishing reports of its inspection work.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sanctions are available to him against private cosmetic surgery clinics not following guidelines and advice give by his Department; and if he will make a statement. [181201]

Dr. Ladyman: The Department itself has no powers to impose sanctions against individual private healthcare establishments regulated under the Care Standards Act 2000. That Act provides for the regulatory body, now the Healthcare Commission, to take proceedings against any registered healthcare establishment that contravenes or fails to comply with the Act or the Private and Voluntary Health Care Regulations and for the courts to impose penalties on summary conviction ranging from levels one to five on the standard scale.

Failure to follow non-statutory guidelines or advice given by the Department is not an offence.

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what measures have been taken to ensure that patients of private cosmetic surgery clinics receive fair and accurate information concerning the treatments available; and if he will make a statement; [181202]

(2) what action his Department has taken in response to the recommendation made in the Health Committee's report on The Regulation of Private and Other Independent Healthcare that health warnings be placed on all advertising for cosmetic surgery; and if he will make a statement. [181195]

Dr. Ladyman: The Private and Voluntary Health Care Regulations (S.I. No. 3968, 2001) include the requirement that all independent healthcare establishments regulated under the Care Standards Act 2000 prepare and implement written statements, as part of their governance procedures, of the policies to be applied and the procedures to be followed in relation to the provision of information to patients and others.
 
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The national minimum standards for independent healthcare expand on this requirement. Each establishment is required to produce a patients' guide, to be reviewed annually, in a format suitable for the patient profile of the establishment with regard to language and translation and for patients with a disability. The aim is to provide patients with clear and accurate information about their treatment and its likely costs, and to ensure that advertisements comply with the code of practice on advertising and do not mislead.

Dentistry

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been put in place to ensure primary care trusts are ready to implement changes to the way dentistry is organised locally from April 2005. [178277]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department and the shadow special health authority for dentistry are working closely with strategic health authorities and primary care trusts (PCTs) to ensure they are ready to implement the changes proposed for dentistry.

We have just completed a series of PCT roadshows around the country, in Manchester, London and Birmingham, which were designed to help PCT commissioners and dental leads for the proposed changes.

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is of training a dentist to NHS standards. [180661]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There are some variations in costs between dental schools, but we estimate that the total revenue costs of the pre-clinical and clinical training of a dentist over the five year course average £140,000.

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times (a) he and (b) senior civil servants have met the (i) British Dental Association and (ii) General Dental Council regarding the recruitment of overseas dentists from EU accession countries in the last six months. [178273]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I met with the British Dental Association on 15 March, when international recruitment was discussed in general terms. The recruitment of overseas dentists from European Union accession countries was not specifically discussed. I met with the General Dental Council (GDC) on Tuesday 6 July to discuss the recruitment of overseas dentists.

The Chief Dental Officer is a member of the GDC and international recruitment is an on-going issue for GDC meetings. The Department has also discussed with the GDC the process for dentists wishing to join the GDC register and to ensure the process is straightforward and swift.

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