House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Feb 2005 (pt 43)

21 Feb 2005 : Column 159W—continued

Health Services (Somerset)

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1)how many consultant episodes have been completed in Somerset in each year since 1997; [214479]

(2) what the (a) maximum and (b) average waiting

21 Feb 2005 : Column 160W

times for in-patient treatment in Somerset have been in each year since 1997. [214480]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The number of consultant episodes completed in Somerset and the maximum and average waiting times for in-patient treatment in Somerset in each year from 1997 are shown in the table.
Strategic health authority (SHA) of residence: Q22 Somerset and Dorset in 2002–03 and 2003–04Health authority of residence: QD5 Somerset between 1996–97 to 2001–02Method of admission: elective (waiting list and booked cases)Count of finished in-year admission episodes and mean time waited in daysCount of finished consultant episodesNational health service hospitals, England 1996–97 to 2003–04

Health authority of residence or
strategic health authority of residence
Median waiting time in days Mean waiting time in days Finished in-year admission episodes Finished consultant episodes

1996–97 QD5 Somerset 43 72 37,147 109,314

1997–98 QD5 Somerset 47 89 36,475 106,767

1998–99 QD5 Somerset 53 101 43,555 119,281

1999–2000 QD5 Somerset 52 101 42,277 121,557

2000–01 QD5 Somerset 56 105 39,584 122,429

2001–02 QD5 Somerset 57 109 36,831 124,649

2002–03 Q22 Somerset and Dorset 46 84 104,165 349,061

2003–04 Q22 Somerset and Dorset 48 79 98,116 354,449

Finished in-year admissions
A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the datayear. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
Finished consultant episode (FCE)
An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
Ungrossed data
Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
Time waited
Time waited statistics from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

21 Feb 2005 : Column 161W

	Health authority of residence or strategic health authority of residence	Median waiting time in days	Mean waiting time in days	Finished in-year admission episodes	Finished consultant episodes
1996–97	QD5	Somerset	43	72	37,147	109,314
1997–98	QD5	Somerset	47	89	36,475	106,767
1998–99	QD5	Somerset	53	101	43,555	119,281
1999–2000	QD5	Somerset	52	101	42,277	121,557
2000–01	QD5	Somerset	56	105	39,584	122,429
2001–02	QD5	Somerset	57	109	36,831	124,649
2002–03	Q22	Somerset and Dorset	46	84	104,165	349,061
2003–04	Q22	Somerset and Dorset	48	79	98,116	354,449

Health Services (Stockton, South)

Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the number of (a) nurses and (b) doctors employed in Stockton, South has changed since 1997. [215312]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested for those national health service organisations serving the Stockton, South constituency is shown in the tables.
Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2 for specified organisations

As at 30 September

1997 2003

All Doctors Doctors

Q10 County Durham & Tees Valley 2,015 2,329

Of which:

RRY Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust 126 n/a

RCH North Tees Health NHS Trust 166 n/a

5E1 North Tees PCT n/a 141

RVW North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust n/a 318

292 459

n/a=Not applicable.
⁽⁵¹⁾Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals.
Note:
Data as at 30 September every year.
Sources:
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.

Qualified Nursing, Midwifery & health visiting staff and Practice Nurses for organisations serving the Stockton South constituency

As at 30 September

Nurses

1997 2004

Q10 County Durham & Tees Valley 7,732 9,084

Of which:

RRY Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust 710 n/a

RCH North Tees Health NHS Trust 951 n/a

5E1 North Tees PCT n/a 307

RVW North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust n/a 1,237

1,661 1,544

n/a=Not applicable.
Note:
Data as at 30 September every year.
Sources:
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.

		As at 30 September
		1997	2003
		All Doctors	Doctors
Q10	County Durham & Tees Valley	2,015	2,329
Of which:
RRY	Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust	126	n/a
RCH	North Tees Health NHS Trust	166	n/a
5E1	North Tees PCT	n/a	141
RVW	North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust	n/a	318
		292	459

		As at 30 September
		Nurses
		1997	2004
Q10	County Durham & Tees Valley	7,732	9,084
Of which:
RRY	Hartlepool & East Durham NHS Trust	710	n/a
RCH	North Tees Health NHS Trust	951	n/a
5E1	North Tees PCT	n/a	307
RVW	North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Trust	n/a	1,237
		1,661	1,544

Ms Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior citizens in Stockton, South have received (a) free eye tests and (b) assistance for glasses and contact lenses since 1997. [215313]

21 Feb 2005 : Column 162W

Miss Melanie Johnson: Figures for the number of sight tests and vouchers by constituency and for senior citizens are not collected centrally. The nearest available is for patients aged 60 and over for sight tests, at former health authority (HA) or current primary care trust (PCT) levels.

The table shows the number of national health service sight tests paid by Tees HA for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2003 and the four PCTs covering the Stockton South constituency for the year ending 31 March 2004.
General ophthalmic services: number of sight tests paid by HAs and primary care PCTs covering the Stockton South constituency for patients aged 60 and over for the years ending 31 March 2000 to 2004

HA name/
PCT name Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (thousand)

1999–2000 Tees HA 40.9

2000–01 Tees HA 39.8

2001–02 Tees HA 42.5

2002–03 Tees HA 42.9

2003–04 North Tees PCT 13.2

Hartlepool PCT 10.7

Middlesbrough PCT 15.3

Langbaurgh PCT 10.1

2003–04 Total 49.3

Notes:
1.Eligibility for NHS sight tests was extended to patients aged 60 and over from 1 April 1999. PCTs took over responsibilities from HAs in October 2002.
2.Sight tests can not be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
3.Patients aged 60 and over are not eligible for free NHS optical vouchers for help towards glasses or contact lenses on age grounds. However, some patients will be eligible under other category such as adult income support, Pension Credits guarantee credit or holders of HC2/HC3 certificates. It is not possible to break down voucher numbers by age for these categories.

	HA name/ PCT name	Number of sight tests for aged 60 and over (thousand)
1999–2000	Tees HA	40.9
2000–01	Tees HA	39.8
2001–02	Tees HA	42.5
2002–03	Tees HA	42.9

2003–04	North Tees PCT	13.2
	Hartlepool PCT	10.7
	Middlesbrough PCT	15.3
	Langbaurgh PCT	10.1

2003–04	Total	49.3

Healthy Eating (Hospitals)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on promoting healthy eating in hospitals. [214326]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The 2004 White Paper, Choosing Health" commits the Government to developing nutritional standards for all foods provided by the national health service, increasing access to a range of healthier foods and taking account of the different formats of provision including restaurant, fast food and vending.

21 Feb 2005 : Column 163W

The NHS recipe book, issued in May 2001 as part of the better hospital food programme, also requires hospitals to meet estimated average requirements for food energy, and reference nutrient intake for all other nutrients. These standards were set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, now known as the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Hospital Patient Statistics

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of stay for an in-patient at (a) Derriford Hospital, Plymouth and (b) other tertiary hospitals in England was in the latest period for which figures are available. [213985]

Mr. Hutton: Data on tertiary hospitals cannot be separately identified. Data at trust level have been placed in the Library.

Next Section

Index

Home Page