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30 Nov 2004 : Column 109W—continued
Nurses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much it costs the NHS to train a nurse. [199561]
Mr. Hutton:
The latest year for which figures are available show that, in 2003–04, the national average cost of tuition to train a nurse over the three years of their course was £19,370. Diploma students would also be entitled to a non-means tested bursary, which in 2003–04 averaged £6,772 per annum.
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Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the number of nurses that have left the UK for employment as a nurse (a) in the USA and (b) elsewhere in each of the last 10 years. [199641]
Mr. Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) holds information on the number of checks made by overseas regulators that nurses in the United Kingdom are on the NMC register. As these figures show the number of checks made, they will overstate the actual number going abroad each year. This information can be found on the NMC website at www.nmc-uk.org.
Peninsula Medical School
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors are in training at the Peninsula Medical School. [199864]
Mr. Hutton: As at 31 July 2004, there were 302 students studying medicine at the Peninsula Medical School. Intake figures for autumn 2004 are not yet available.
Pharmaceutical Dispensing
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects repeat dispensing from pharmacies will be available in all parts of the country; and if he will make a statement. [199453]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Since regulations came into force in May 2003, 89 primary care trusts across the country are able to operate repeat dispensing arrangements.
Repeat dispensing is one of the essential services to be provided by all community pharmacies as part of the new contractual framework for community pharmacy. National roll-out will therefore be in the context of implementing this new framework, which is expected to go live from April 2005. There will be a six month transitional period, so community pharmacies will have until October 2005, to ensure they are in a position to provide this as an essential service in the new contractual framework.
Pregnant Women
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost of administering the test for group B streptococcus to pregnant women is in this financial year; [199708]
(2) what assessment he has made of (a) the effectiveness and (b) the cost of alternative screening tests for group B streptococcus; and if he will make a statement. [199709]
Dr. Ladyman:
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) have all recommended that routine screening for group B streptococcus. (GBS) should not be offered to all pregnant women in the United Kingdom, as there is insufficient evidence that this would do more good than harm.
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The NSC is undertaking further work on the prevention of GBS infection in newborn babies. This will include an assessment of the different diagnostic tests. We do not hold information about national health service costs of administering tests for GBS.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include pulmonary rehabilitation in the payment by results NHS funding tariff; and if he will make a statement. [199431]
Mr. Hutton: In 2005–06, the national tariff will cover all admitted patients—day-cases, elective and non-elective in-patients, out-patients and accident and emergency services unless the services those patients receive are specifically excluded from the scope of the tariff. Rehabilitation, but not specifically pulmonary rehabilitation, is excluded from the tariff where, for admitted patients it takes place in a discrete rehabilitation ward or unit or where, for admitted or out-patients, the activity is coded to specialty 314 (rehabilitation).
Regional Tobacco Control Managers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the post of Regional Tobacco Control Managers is a new position; and what the job description is. [199485]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Since May 2003, regional tobacco control managers have a remit to provide strong leadership on tobacco control across each Government office region, by working with key partners to deliver the goals of the national tobacco control programme, including the coordination and funding of local tobacco alliances. Their roles will now include delivery of the White Paper, "Choosing Health".
Restraint (Children)
Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods of restraint are approved for use on children in (a) hospitals and (b) secure hospitals. [200422]
Dr. Ladyman: Guidance on the use of restraint is set out in the Mental Health Act code of practice, paragraphs 19.6 to 19.15. This states that restraint by physical means should take place only as a last resort and never as a matter of course. In addition, the guidance 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; and be sensitive to gender and race issues. The advice applies in all healthcare settings and to all age ranges. Trusts should regularly audit their control and restraint procedures consistent with the framework of clinical governance.
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the findings of the inquiry conducted by Professors Triston and Townsend into waiting irregularities at the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital, with particular reference to the findings concerning Barnet primary care trust; and what
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assessment he has made of the implications of the findings for the star rating of Barnet primary care trust for 2004–05. [199422]
Dr. Ladyman: I welcome the steps taken by North Central London strategic health authority (SHA) to commission the inquiry and note that arrangements for managing waiting lists are now satisfactory at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
I understand that in the light of the inquiry, North Central London SHA and Barnet primary care trust have made representations to the Healthcare Commission concerning the impact on 2004–05 star ratings.
Responsibility for calculating performance ratings for 2004–05 is a matter for the independent Healthcare Commission, not the Department
South and West Devon Health Authority
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding was provided for the former South and West Devon health authority area in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002–03; and what the percentage change was. [199870]
Mr. Hutton: The table shows revenue allocations to South and West Devon health authority (HA) made in 1997–98 and 2002–03 and the increase in percentage terms for 1997–98 and 2002–03.
It is not possible to make comparisons between the allocations made in 1997–98 and 2002–03 as 1999–2000 was the first year unified allocations were made to HAs to cover hospital and community health services, prescribing and general medical services cash limited.
| Period | Allocation (£000) | Cash increase (percentage) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 267,134 | 3.68 |
| 2002–03 | 499,768 | 9.42 |
South West Pensinsula Area
Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) total and (b) percentage change in funding for each primary care trust in the South West Peninsula Area was between 2003–04 and 2005–06. [199871]
Mr. Hutton: The table shows the total allocations and percentage increase in funding for each primary care trust (PCT) in the South West Peninsula area between 2003–04 and 2005–06.
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