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Dermatology

Mr. Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the length of time that patients with severe skin diseases will wait to access new biological and immuno-suppressant therapies; and if he will make a statement; [209023]

(2) what impact he expects the cost of new biological and immuno-suppressant therapies to have on dermatology services and their resources; and if he will make a statement; [209024]

(3) if he will take steps to ensure that patients with chronic skin diseases have access to the widest possible range of treatments, including new biological and immuno-suppressant therapies. [209025]

Dr. Ladyman: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been commissioned to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of Efalizumab and Etanercept in the treatment of psoriasis and are expected to provide guidance to the national health service by October 2005.

Once advice from NICE is available, we expect the NHS to fund recommended drugs where these are clinically appropriate. The NHS has three months from the date of publication of each technology appraisal guidance to provide funding for treatments.

The delivery of health services, including the funding of treatments recommended by NICE, rests with primary care trusts (PCTs). It is for PCTs to decide what services to provide for their populations, including the treatment of chronic skin conditions, as they are best placed to understand local health needs and commission services to meet them accordingly.

DPT Vaccine

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1)when mercury was removed from the diptheria, polio and tetanus (DPT) vaccine used in the UK; [209390]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the effect of mercury in the diptheria, polio and tetanus (DPT) vaccine (a) on the immune system and (b) in reaction with the MMR vaccine. [209391]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Prior to 27 September 2004, ethylmercury was present in the combined diphtheria, tetanus and whole-cell pertussis vaccine (DTwP) in the form of the preservative thiomersal. With the introduction of a new combined diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP/IPV/Hib) vaccine on this date, the routine childhood immunisation programme no longer includes a thiomersal-containing vaccine.

This change was made because the low risk of importation of polio in the United Kingdom provided the opportunity to move from the use of a live polio vaccine to an inactivated polio vaccine as well as the availability of an acellular pertussis vaccine which was as effective as the previous whole-cell pertussis. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine does not contain (and never has contained) thiomersal.
 
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There is no credible scientific evidence that demonstrates a mechanism through which thiomersal in DTP could interact with MMR. The issue of whether ethylmercury-containing vaccines could affect a constituent of another vaccine has been considered by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) as part of their review of multiple immunizations and immune dysfunction (Immunization Safety Review: 'Multiple Immunizations and Immune Dysfunction', 2002). Several large studies have found no evidence of a link between either MMR vaccine or thiomersal-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) drug and alcohol rehabilitation units and (b) drug rehabilitation beds there were in (i) England, (ii) North Somerset local authority and (iii) the constituency of Weston-super-Mare in each year since 1997. [210344]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 24 January 2005]: In England, there are currently 111 residential rehabilitation units and 2,414 drug rehabilitation beds.

In North Somerset, there are 12 rehabilitation units and 269 rehabilitation beds.

In Weston-super-Mare, there are 11 rehabilitation units and 213 rehabilitation beds.

Full details can be found on the National Treatment Agency's (NTA) residential services directory at www.nta.uk/residential/index. The NTA have published this information from summer 2003 and it is not available before this date.

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals received treatment at drug rehabilitation centres in (a) North Somerset and (b) the constituency of Weston-super-Mare in each year since 1997; and what proportion of those receiving treatment discharged themselves from treatment services after less than 12 weeks. [210346]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 24 January 2005]: The National Drug Monitoring System (NDTMS) has data for 2003–04. NDTMS data is not available for earlier years or at constituency level.

In 2003–04, there were 304 people in treatment in the two rehabilitation units in North Somerset for which data are available.

Out of the 304 people in treatment in North Somerset in 2003–04, 36 (12 per cent.) left or dropped out of treatment before 12 weeks.

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Government will take steps to require all drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres (a) to be registered with (i) local authorities and (ii) other bodies and (b) to be subject to an inspection regime. [210350]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 24 January 2005]: From the commencement of the Care Standards Act 2000 in April 2002, the registration and inspection of drug and alcohol rehabilitation units as care homes became the responsibility of the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). In April 2003, the
 
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NCSC became part of the new Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), and NCSCs role of registration and inspection is now part of the work of CSCI.

The Fees and Frequency of Inspections Regulations 2004 require CSCI to inspect most establishments a minimum of once or twice a year.

Eastbourne District General Hospital

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on waiting lists at Eastbourne District General Hospital. [208103]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Eastbourne District General Hospital is part of East Sussex Hospitals National Health Service Trust. The Trust is currently achieving both elective admission and first out-patient appointment waiting time targets.

In March 2003, there were 403 patients, waiting over nine months for in-patient treatment. According to latest available data (November 2004), there were no patients waiting over nine months.

In March 2003, there were 302 patients waiting over 17 weeks for out-patient treatment. According to latest available data (September 2004), there were no patients waiting over 17 weeks.

EU Constitution (Rights of the Child)

Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Healthwhether it is his Department's assessment that the requirement of article 1–3(3) of the proposed EU Constitution for the protection of the rights of the child applies to unborn children. [208083]

Mr. Hutton: The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union is a political declaration and currently not legally binding. It has been incorporated within the EU Constitution signed recently, and once that is ratified and in force, the Charter will be binding on the EU institutions, and on member states in so far as they are implementing EU law. However, the regulation of medical ethical issues, such as the rights of the unborn child, is not regulated under EU law, and as such, the Charter would not apply.

Food Supplements Directive

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of (a) the effect upon consumers and (b) the impact on his Department's work towards its policy objectives of the removal from the market after July of those food supplements which are regarded as safe by United Kingdom regulatory authorities but which do not meet the technical requirements of the Food Supplements Directive and the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003. [209798]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 6 December, 2004, Official Report, columns 351–52W.
 
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