House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Mar 2005 (pt 20)

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1081W—continued

Nurses

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses, (b) health visitors, (c) practice nurses and (d) school nurses were employed (i) in England and (ii) in Huddersfield constituency in (A) 1997 and (B) 2004. [216876]

Miss Melanie Johnson: It is not possible to provide information for Huddersfield constituency because the previous and existing national health service trusts served an area significantly wider than Huddersfield constituency. The primary care trust (PCT) boundaries in the area are not coterminous with the Huddersfield constituency boundaries.

Information on the number of nurses, health visitors and practice nurses employed in England and in West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) in 1997 and 2003 (the latest year for which data is available) is shown in the table.

The Government collected information on the school nursing workforce in the September 2003 non-medical workforce census, but this information was incomplete. Information on the number of school nurses employed in the NHS will be available from the September 2004 non-medical workforce census, expected to be published in March 2005.

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1082W

All NHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including practice nurses employed in England, West Yorkshire SHA and Huddersfield areas as at 30 September⁽¹⁵⁾ in each year

headcount

1997 2003

England

All qualified nurses (including practice nurses) 318,856 386,629

of which:

Health visitor 12,410 12,984

Practice nurse 18,389 21,667

West Yorkshire SHA

All qualified nurses (including practice nurses) 14,787 18,829

of which:

Health visitor 595 609

Practice nurse 736 903

⁽¹⁵⁾ Practice nurse figures as at 1 October for 1997.
Source:
Department of Health non-medical workforce census.
Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics.

headcount
	1997	2003
England
All qualified nurses (including practice nurses)	318,856	386,629
of which:
Health visitor	12,410	12,984
Practice nurse	18,389	21,667
West Yorkshire SHA
All qualified nurses (including practice nurses)	14,787	18,829
of which:
Health visitor	595	609
Practice nurse	736	903

Patients (Leicestershire)

Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients were treated in Leicestershire in each year between 1992–93 and the last year for which figures are available. [216934]

Dr. Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the tables.
1. Count of finished in-patient admission episodes for selected providers national health service hospitals, 1993–94 to 2003–04

NHS Trust

Leicester General Hospital Leicester Royal Infirmary Glenfield Hospital University Hospitals of Leicester Leicestershire Mental Health Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare Leicestershire Partnership

1993–94 44,956 83,442 19,078 — — — — —

1994–95 28,141 80,748 18,424 — 11,332 — — —

1995–96 42,039 85,973 22,489 — 3,519 11,070 — —

1996–97 43,357 100,931 24,008 — 3,793 11,707 — —

1997–98 45,875 103,626 22,338 — 2,239 9,683 — —

1998–99 49,313 111,885 25,914 — 4,212 9,658 — —

1999–2000 51,315 114,423 27,686 — — — 15,142 —

2000–01 — — — 182,101 — — 8,046 —

2001–02 — — — 199,980 — — 9,571 —

2002–03 — — — 201,155 — — — 4,557

2003–04 — — — 209,656 — — — 4,404

Notes:
1. A finished admission episode is the first" period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
2. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
3. University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust was formed on 1 April 2000 following the merger of Leicester General Hospital NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust, and Glenfield Hospital NHS Trust. Leicestershire Mental Health Service NHS Trust was established in 1993 and dissolved in April 1999. Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community NHS Trust was established in1994 and dissolved in April 1999. Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust was established 1 January 1999. The new trust replaced the Leicestershire Mental Health Service and the Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community NHS Trusts. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust was established in April 2002. The new trust came into being when it changed its name from Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare NHS Trust to Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.
Source:
Hospital episode statistics (HES), Department of Health.

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1083W

2. Count of first out-patient attendances for selected providers NHS hospitals, 1993–94 to 2003–04 outlined in the HES extract for Leicestershire

NHS Trust

Leicester General Hospital Leicester Royal Infirmary Glenfield Hospital University Hospitals of Leicester Leicestershire Mental Health Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare Leicestershire Partnership

1993–94 25,286 74,586 17,508 — — — — —

1994–95 27,753 80,022 19,253 — 3,742 — — —

1995–96 26,000 83,415 22,891 — 4,629 36,125 — —

1996–97 25,950 87,905 26,528 — 5,503 39,187 — —

1997–98 26,598 92,317 28,098 — 5,669 36,737 — —

1998–99 26,591 96,116 30,204 — 6,728 35,413 — —

1999–2000 27,757 101,379 26,480 — — — 36,611 —

2000–01 — — — 161,329 — — 38,399 —

2001–02 — — — 177,380 — — 16,257 —

2002–03 — — — 178,078 — — — 8,728

2003–04 — — — 173,849 — — — 10,901

Source:
Department of Health KH09 and QMOP monitoring returns.

	NHS Trust
	Leicester General Hospital	Leicester Royal Infirmary	Glenfield Hospital	University Hospitals of Leicester	Leicestershire Mental Health	Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community	Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare	Leicestershire Partnership
1993–94	44,956	83,442	19,078	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	28,141	80,748	18,424	—	11,332	—	—	—
1995–96	42,039	85,973	22,489	—	3,519	11,070	—	—
1996–97	43,357	100,931	24,008	—	3,793	11,707	—	—
1997–98	45,875	103,626	22,338	—	2,239	9,683	—	—
1998–99	49,313	111,885	25,914	—	4,212	9,658	—	—
1999–2000	51,315	114,423	27,686	—	—	—	15,142	—
2000–01	—	—	—	182,101	—	—	8,046	—
2001–02	—	—	—	199,980	—	—	9,571	—
2002–03	—	—	—	201,155	—	—	—	4,557
2003–04	—	—	—	209,656	—	—	—	4,404

	NHS Trust
	Leicester General Hospital	Leicester Royal Infirmary	Glenfield Hospital	University Hospitals of Leicester	Leicestershire Mental Health	Fosse Health, Leicestershire Community	Leicestershire and Rutland Healthcare	Leicestershire Partnership
1993–94	25,286	74,586	17,508	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	27,753	80,022	19,253	—	3,742	—	—	—
1995–96	26,000	83,415	22,891	—	4,629	36,125	—	—
1996–97	25,950	87,905	26,528	—	5,503	39,187	—	—
1997–98	26,598	92,317	28,098	—	5,669	36,737	—	—
1998–99	26,591	96,116	30,204	—	6,728	35,413	—	—
1999–2000	27,757	101,379	26,480	—	—	—	36,611	—
2000–01	—	—	—	161,329	—	—	38,399	—
2001–02	—	—	—	177,380	—	—	16,257	—
2002–03	—	—	—	178,078	—	—	—	8,728
2003–04	—	—	—	173,849	—	—	—	10,901

Student Midwives

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives who entered training in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04 were over the age of 25 years. [218736]

Mr. Hutton: The number of student midwives who entered diploma training in 2002–03 and 2003–04 is shown in the table. Data are not collected by the specific age band requested.

Age band 2002–03 2003–04

Below 26 288 324

26 and above 321 276

Source:
Nursing and midwifery admissions service.

Age band	2002–03	2003–04
Below 26	288	324
26 and above	321	276

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many student midwives dropped out of training in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04. [218739]

Mr. Hutton: Information for England on the percentage of pre-registration midwifery students who have left their university course in 2002–03 and 2003–04 is not available. The attrition data for these academic years administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency are in the process of being analysed.

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1084W

Sunlight

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what published scientific evidence the Government's recommendations to the public concerning exposure to sunlight are based, with particular reference to (a) exposure at peak hours and (b) using sunscreen; [217040]

(2) whether the public health consequences of sunlight exposure have been recently reviewed; and whether new guidelines have been published; [217042]

(3) what steps the Government has taken to inform the public of the effects on vitamin D status of measures that may be taken to reduce the risk of skin cancer; [217043]

(4) what evidential sources the Chief Medical Officer based his Better Health advice on exposure to the sun; and what account he took of consequential effects on vitamin D levels; [217044]

(5) what research he has commissioned on whether those who follow the advice on avoiding exposure to the sun at peak hours and using sunscreen would obtain sufficient vitamin D; [217061]

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1085W

(6) what steps the Department has taken over the last 10 years to inform the public that exposure of skin to sunlight is necessary to provide vitamin D; [217075]

(7) what research his Department has evaluated concerning whether casual exposure of the hands and face to sunlight at British latitudes provides sufficient vitamin D for optimum health. [217273]

Miss Melanie Johnson: Skin cancer is the second most common cancer in the United Kingdom, with about 40,500 cases annually. 6,000 of these cases are malignant melanomas. While rare, mortality rates are high and 50 per cent. of patients die within two years.

The Government has been active in providing information to the public to advise people on the best ways to avoid skin cancer.

We have with key stakeholders developed the SunSmart" campaign. It is run by Cancer Research UK and funded by the UK health departments. Cancer Research UK has received funding of around 400,000 for three years from 2003–06.

The SunSmart advice is:

stay in the shade between 11 am to 3 pm,

make sure you never burn,

always cover up with a T-shirt, wide brimmed hat and sunglasses,

remember to take extra care with children,

then use factor 15 plus sunscreen.

Further work by Cancer Research UK is being undertaken on risks associated with sunbeds.

No new guidelines have been issued in the last three years while the SunSmart campaign has been in place, although there has been variation on the ways in which the messages are put across to the public so as to achieve maximum and continuing impact.

The messages in the SunSmart campaign have been approved by the members of the United Kingdom Skin Cancer Working Group, which is hosted by the British Association of Dermatologists and includes representatives of the National Radiological Protection Board, the Skin Care Campaign, UK health departments, the Health and Safety Executive and other experts in the subject.

The following international studies discuss the scientific evidence for sun protection behaviours and messages These studies include: Interventions to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation, A systematic review, Saraiya, Glantz, Briss et al., Am J Prev Med 2004; 27 (5).

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1086W

European Code Against Cancer and scientific justification: third version (2003), Boyle, Autier, Bartelink et al, Annals of Oncology 14:973–1005, 2003.

IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, Volume 5, Sunscreens, International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, 2001.

Copies of these studies have been placed in the Library.

The Chief Medical Officer's advice in his top 10 tips for better health on protection from the sun reiterates the advice in the SunSmart campaign.

Government also funds the ultra-violet (UV) index on the Meteorological Office website (linked to the Cancer Research UK SunSmart website). Met Office weather reports on television and radio draw attention to the UV index when danger from the sun is high.

The United Kingdom Skin Cancer Working Group recently established a sub-group to consider questions relating to exposure to sunlight and Vitamin D. This sub-group at its meeting in January 2005 concluded that on present evidence it would be inappropriate to alter the SunSmart messages. However, it noted that an international workshop on the subject of exposure to the sun and Vitamin D levels will take place in Munich in October 2005 involving the organisations Euroskin and the WHOINTERSUN groups. One of the objectives of this international workshop is to produce a peer-reviewed publication as soon as possible. The Government will consider any implications for policy from the evidence in this report when it is available.

Next Section

Index

Home Page