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18 Nov 2004 : Column 1989W—continued
Public Health
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to publish a delivery plan on physical activity in relation to the Public Health White Paper. [197363]
Miss Melanie Johnson: We will publish a physical activity plan, including those commitments identified in the White Paper and other relevant departmental plans, in the spring.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the report his Department commissioned on Promoting Physical Activity—Selected International Activity. [197364]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The report has been placed in the Library. It is also available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/09/46/56/04094656.pdf.
Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with broadcasters in preparing the proposals set out in his Public Health White Paper on restrictions on broadcast advertising. [199236R]
Miss Melanie Johnson: It has not proved possible to respond to the right hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Radio-diagnostic Equipment
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet manufacturers of radio-diagnostic equipment to discuss increasing the weight limit of 21 to 22 stones for use of such equipment. [195914]
Ms Rosie Winterton: A review of current weight limits for the major manufacturer's X-ray couches has shown that most are substantially above 22 stones. Some couches have limits of just over 21 stones when tilted, but are above 23 stones in the horizontal position. Earlier models still in service may have lower weight limits.
Nuclear medicine, where the patient is injected with a radioactive substance and then scanned to image regions of interest, becomes less effective as the patient's weight increases. In the interests of patient safety maximum doses are set by the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee, which is part of the Department. This will limit the amount of radiation available to produce an image in heavier patients. However, these maximum doses can be exceeded on a named patient basis in special circumstances.
It is not necessary for a Minister to meet with manufacturers at this time.
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Renal Dialysis
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the amount of renal dialysis provision which will be required in Warrington over the next five years if all patients requiring dialysis are to be treated locally. [197642]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 11 November 2004]: In January 2004, the Department published the national service framework for renal services, part one. This identifies various steps that primary care trusts and national health service trusts can make to take forward delivery.
From 2000–01 to 2005–06, up to £60 million central capital funding will be provided to support the expansion of centre-based haemodialysis to meet increasing local demand for dialysis. This includes £9 million in 2004–05 and £14 million in 2005–06.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority received £504,000 in 2004–05.
Radiographers
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of Agenda for Change on the (a) remuneration and (b) working hours of radiographers in the NHS. [199326]
Mr. Hutton: We anticipate that for the majority of existing radiographers the effect of "Agenda for Change" will be an increase in their rate of pay. Under "Agenda for Change", there will be a phased move to a standard working week for all full-time national health service staff of 37.5 hours per week. In the case of radiographers, this will mean an increase in their current weekly hours from 35 to 37.5. The changes for radiographers will be phased in over seven years, with no change at all for the first four years.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with representatives of professional groups on increasing the number of radiographers available to the NHS. [199327]
Mr. Hutton: I have regular meetings with professional bodies, including the Society of Radiographers, to discuss a wide range of topics, for example increasing the number of radiographers in the national health service.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are in the NHS for (a) radiographers and (b) radiotherapy technicians. [199328]
Mr. Hutton:
Specific information on the number of vacancies for radiotherapy technicians is not collected centrally. The tables show the number and rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for radiographers and radiotherapy physicists.
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18 Nov 2004 : Column 1993W
wte = Whole-time equivalent.
3 month vacancy notes:
1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2004.
2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which Trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents).
3. Three month Vacancy Rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of 3 month vacancies plus staff in post.
4. 3 month Vacancy Rates are calculated using staff in post from the Vacancy Survey, March 2004.
5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
6. — = zero.
Staff in post notes:
1. Staff in post data is from the Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2003.
2. — = zero.
3. September 2003 staff in post data is not available for radiotherapy physicists.
General notes:
1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
4. Strategic HA figures are based on Trusts, and do not necessarily reflect the geographical provision of healthcare.
Sources:
Department of Health Vacancies Survey, March 2004.
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census, September 2003.
18 Nov 2004 : Column 1995W
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