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General Practitioners (Havering)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the latest average waiting time is for an appointment with a general practitioner in the London Borough of Havering. [182828]

Mr. Hutton: Information is not collected centrally on the average waiting time to see a general practitioner.

However, information is collected on the percentage of patients seen by a GP within the 48-hour GP access target. The most recent primary care access survey shows 100 per cent. of patients in Havering Primary Care Trust were able to see a GP within two working days.

HIV/AIDS (Discrimination)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to bring forward measures to counter discrimination which takes place against individuals who have HIV or AIDS; what priority he affords to such proposals; and if he will make a statement. [183002]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department contracts with the National AIDS Trust (NAT) to undertake activities to address stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, in line with the stated aims of the National Strategy for Sexual Health and HIV (2001). These activities aim to improve people's ability and willingness to access HIV services (including testing) and treatments, and to address inequalities.

Hospital Staff (Havering)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staff to patient ratio is in NHS hospitals in Havering. [182815]

Mr. Hutton: Information is not collected centrally on staff patient ratios.

Investors in Health Award

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on establishing an Investors in Health award to encourage employers to promote good health in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the benefits to (a) the national health service and (b) British business of encouraging employers to promote good health in the workplace. [182805]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 12 July 2004]: An exchange of correspondence between Standard Life Healthcare and the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, on establishing an "Investors in Health" award designed to promote better health at work took place in June this year.
 
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Subsequent to this, officials from the Department will be meeting with representatives from Standard Life Healthcare, together with officials from the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Work and Pensions on Wednesday 14 July.

Standard Life also included proposals on establishing an "Investors in health" award in its response to "Choosing Health?", the consultation on improving people's health and well-being, which ended on 28 June. This consultation will inform the content of a White Paper on improving health, which will be published in the autumn.

Litigation Expenditure

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the amount of NHS resources spent on (i) defending and (ii) initiating legal actions. [181403]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department commissioned the Universities of Nottingham, Oxford and Surrey to produce "Evaluating Policy Alternatives for Patient Compensation" in 2001. This was part of the programme of work leading to the publication of "Making Amends", the Chief Medical Officer's proposal for reforming the approach to clinical negligence in the national health service. A copy has been placed in the Library.

This research showed that the NHS resources spent on defending and initiating legal actions, by scheme, in 2000–01, was:
£000

Scheme	Awards	Claimant costs	Defence costs
Clinical negligence scheme for trusts(24)	42,518	13,950	12,182
Existing liabilities scheme(25)	184,554	29,139	11,828
Total	227,072	43,089	24,010

Notes:
1. The clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST)—a voluntary pooling arrangement open to both NHS and primary care trusts and health authorities (HAs) in England. The scheme came into operation from 1 April 1995.
2. The existing liabilities scheme—established on 1 April 1996, and open to all trusts and HAs without any membership requirements and irrespective of whether the applicant is a member of the CNST. It provides cover for claims arising from liabilities, which occurred prior to 1 April 1995.

The NHS summarised accounts for 2002–03 records the total amount spent on negligence as £446 million. Of the total of £446 million, the amount of NHS resources spent on defending and initiating legal actions was £58 million and £59 million respectively.

Medical Training (Debt)

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations have been received by the Department requesting the writing off of the debt of doctors' medical training for those who work exclusively within the NHS for a set period. [182714]

Mr. Hutton: There have been no formal written representations to the Department within the last two years on this matter. A few individuals writing to the Department to query their own student support arrangements have suggested this option as worthy of future consideration.
 
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Mental Health

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include proposals for improving the mental health of older people in the White Paper on public health. [183164]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Our consultation, "Choosing Health? A consultation on action to improve people's health" ended on 28 June 2004. Over 2,200 responses have been received, and are now being analysed. These cover a wide range of topics, including the mental health of older people. We shall build on the consultation responses as we prepare our White Paper on improving people's health, which we plan to publish in the autumn.

Myasthenia Gravis

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on myasthenia gravis; and how the Government supports those diagnosed with the disease. [183069]

Dr. Ladyman: Myasthenia gravis is a neurological condition characterised by fluctuating levels of muscle weakness. There is no cure but treatment includes medication, surgery and palliation.

The national service framework for long-term conditions will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions. While the framework will not cover myasthenia gravis specifically, it will recommend improvements in standards, care and support that will benefit everyone with a neurological condition.

We are committed to publishing the framework as soon as possible.

It is for health authorities, in partnership with other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to provide health services for their populations, including those with myasthenia gravis.

New Hospitals

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will define hospitals in relation to the NHS Plan target of 100 new hospitals by 2010; and if he will make a statement. [181655]

Mr. Hutton: The NHS Plan target is for "100 new hospital schemes in total between 2000 and 2010". A new hospital scheme is defined as a capital investment scheme with a value of £10 million or over.

This does not include specialist investment initiatives identified separately in the NHS Plan, such as diagnosis and treatment centres.

46 new hospital schemes, 39 private finance initiative and seven public capital, are already built and open, so the national health service is well on course to meet the target.

Health Service Finance

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the most recent figures collected by each strategic health authority showing (a) the forecast financial surplus or deficit for each NHS trust and primary care trust, (b) the savings needed for each trust
 
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and primary care trust to deliver its 2004–05 recovery plan and (c) those savings as a percentage of trust or primary care trust income; and if he will make a statement. [183116]

Mr. Hutton: We have no plans to publish unaudited in-year financial management information. All national health service trusts and primary care trusts have been asked to plan for and achieve financial balance in 2004–05. Audited information for all NHS trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts and will be available centrally in autumn 2005.

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