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19 Jul 2004 : Column 120W—continued
Prescription Medicines Prices
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to ensure that the prices paid in the UK for branded prescription medicines are comparable with those in other countries in Europe; and if he will make a statement. [183666]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department, on behalf of the United Kingdom Government, is currently negotiating with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) on a new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. It is seeking to negotiate another voluntary agreement that delivers prices that represent value for money for the taxpayer and the national health service as well as reasonable returns for the research-based pharmaceutical industry.
Restraint Procedures
Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restraint procedures are allowed to be used within a psychiatric hospital when a patient becomes violent or aggressive to ensure that the patient or members of staff are not physically injured; and if he will make a statement. [184133]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Guidance on the use of restraint, for those detained under section of the Mental Health Act 1983, is laid out in the Mental Health Act Code of Practice.
Section 19.12 of the Code of Practice states that:
"Any restraint used should:
be reasonable in the circumstance;
apply the minimum force necessary to prevent harm to the patient or others;
be used for only as long as is necessary;
be sensitive to gender and race issues."
Trusts should regularly audit their control and restraint procedures consistent with the framework of clinical governance.
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The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is currently carrying out its final consultation on its guidance, "Disturbed (violent) behaviour: the short-term management of disturbed (violent) behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings", which is scheduled for publication later in the year.
In February this year, "Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings" was issued to assist services by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) programme on the management of violence.
The NIMHE programme is also developing a scheme for regulation and accreditation for trainers and training in the prevention and management of aggression and violence in mental health services.
Salary and Recruitment Costs
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the cost of recruitment and (b) the total cumulative salary bill are for the (i) national cancer director, (ii) national director for heart disease, (iii) chairman of the better hospital food panel, (iv) national director of mental health, (v) national director for older people's services and (vi) alliance development manager at the tobacco policy unit. [184551]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The four national clinical directors are each employed on a national health service consultant contract and the Department reimburses the costs of their time. The alliance development manager, which has been renamed regional liaison manager, is a secondment from the voluntary sector.
Because these posts were filled through secondment arrangements as permitted by the Civil Service Commissioners, there were no recruitment costs incurred in these appointments.
The chairman of the better hospital food panel receives no remuneration and there were no recruitment costs associated with his appointment.
TNF Blockade
John Austin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from consultant rheumatologists regarding the prescribing of TNF blockade; whether the obligation to fund it includes funding the nursing and administrative infrastructure
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necessary to facilitate and enable funding the administration of the drug; what guidance he has issued to primary care trusts and acute trusts; and if he will make a statement. [184875]
Dr. Ladyman: We are not aware of having received any representations from consultant rheumatologists on this subject. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) reported on these drugs in 2002, so we would expect that any representations would have been received by them. There has, however, been correspondence from hon. and right hon. Members and the public, as well as several parliamentary questions, on anti-TNF therapy.
National health service bodies are under a statutory obligation to fund treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisals. We expect primary care trusts (PCTs) to meet their statutory obligations, and strategic health authorities to follow up any allegations of non-compliance.
The NHS has three months from the date of publication of guidance on technology appraisals to provide funding, so that clinical decisions made by doctors involving NICE recommended treatments or drugs can be funded. We last reminded PCTs of these obligations in guidance published in January 2003.
The Department has not issued guidelines on the dispensing of anti-TNF drugs. NICE issued guidance on these drugs in March 2002. They recommended that consultant rheumatologists, or consultant paediatric rheumatologists in the case of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, should prescribe these drugs, in accordance with the guidelines set out by the British Society for Rheumatology or British Paediatric Rheumatology Group.
Wiltshire Ambulance Trust
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the criteria are for the Wiltshire Project for evaluation of the Wiltshire Ambulance Trust. [184230]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In April 2004 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA), in partnership with Wiltshire Ambulance National Health Service Trust, embarked on a project to consider how emergency services could be better shaped to meet the demands of the future.
The criteria for the project are a matter for the SHA and trust.