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4 Nov 2004 : Column 387W—continued
Cancelled Operations
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled at the last minute in the NHS in each year since 1980. [192807]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is shown in the tables. The specific definition used is operations cancelled on or after the day of admission. The information was first collected in 1994 and the table shows the figures for each quarter since then.
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Data Protection
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place (a) to check the criminal records of civil servants in his Department and agencies responsible to his Department who have access to computer databases containing confidential information on the public and (b) to ensure that there can be no improper use of computer databases containing confidential information on the public; and if he will make a statement. [194602]
Ms Rosie Winterton: All departmental staff are subject to, at least, the basic security check, which includes criminal records. There is clear personnel guidance requiring staff to inform their line manager and human resources (HR) team if civil action is being taken against them or if they are arrested on any charge or served with a summons on a criminal charge. Staff who are subsequently convicted must also report this to their line manager and HR team.
Staff are also advised that a prosecution action taken against them, whether successful or not, may affect their employment with the Department.
The departmental security unit (DHSU) provides guidance to all staff on information technology (IT) and general security. This includes the need to protect all official information and the IT Misuse Policy. Security policy, principles and guidance are based upon the Manual of Protective Security, published by Cabinet Office.
Staff are reminded that they are all responsible for security and that the compromise of information, either deliberately or through carelessness, is treated very seriously and may result in disciplinary action.
Physical and IT controls prevent staff having unauthorised access to confidential information. DHSU take regular action to raise staff awareness of security issues, including information security.
Departmental Administration Costs
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has budgeted for departmental administration costs in (a) 2004–05, (b) 2005–06, (c) 2007–08, (d) 2008–09 and (e) 2009–10. [194264]
Ms Rosie Winterton:
The Department's provisional net administration budgets from 2004–05 are shown in the table.
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| Amount | |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 278 |
| 2005–06 | 245 |
| 2006–07 | 238 |
| 2007–08 | 225 |
These figures will be finalised in the light of the Department's restructuring programme and the review of arm's length bodies.
Figures for 2008–09 and 2009–10 have not yet been agreed.
E111 Forms
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government have taken to alert British citizens to the 31 December deadline after which E111 forms issued before August will be invalid; how much has been spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) leaflets and (e) other campaigns; and if he will make a statement. [194665]
Mr. Hutton: The Department is carrying out a number of measures to publicise the arrangements for the new E111. The Department is working closely with a number of other Government Departments and agencies including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Passport Agency, using channels of communication which already exist with the travelling public. We are working through organisations in the travel industry, such as the Association of British Insurers, the Association of British Travel Agencies and the Federation of Tour Operators to ensure the message is sent to their membership companies and to the travelling public. We have produced leaflets and posters which have been distributed to travel agents and other outlets, including Thomas Cook, MyTravel, Boots the Chemists and British Airways travel shops. We have also worked with the Post Office, who process the E111, to ensure the new form is publicised in their outlets. Finally we have placed press advertising in the travel supplements of national newspapers across the United Kingdom and in travel trade magazines. Final costs are not yet available as this publicity is on-going but about £170,000 has been spent to date.
Health Service Ombudsman
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints were received by the Health Service Ombudsman in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [196195]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Health Service Ombudsman publishes information about the handling of cases in her annual report, copies of which are available in the Library and on the Ombudsman's website at: www.ombudsman.org.uk
Health Spending (Chesterfield)
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the health expenditure per head of the population in Chesterfield constituency has been in each year since 1997. [195577]
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Dr. Ladyman: The information is not available in the format requested.
Expenditure per weighted head of population in the Trent Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, which includes the Chesterfield constituency, has increased from £610.10 in 1997–98 to £862.03 in 2002–03. However, this does not represent the total expenditure per head, as an element of health expenditure cannot be identified by SHA area.
Hearing Aids
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that guidelines on priorities for fitting digital hearing aids (a) take into account situations where a patient has mental health problems as well as hearing loss and (b) ensure that trusts carry out a holistic assessment of patients waiting for digital hearing aids. [196066]
Dr. Ladyman: Audiology services should develop their own priorities and guidelines for fitting digital hearing aids in consultation with primary care trusts and commissioners. Best practice would suggest that all clinical teams in the national health service should be undertaking holistic assessments of their clients, including consideration of any mental health problems, but this is a matter for trusts to determine and implement.
HIV
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people living in the West Midlands area are HIV positive. [195690]
Dr. Ladyman: There were 1,695 patients seen for statutory medical HIV-related care in the West Midlands in 2003, including 24 children born to infected mothers whose HIV infection status had not been confirmed.
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