House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 Mar 2005 (pt 25)

3 Mar 2005 : Column 1361W—continued

Emergency Admissions

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been admitted to hospital after attending (a) a major accident and emergency department, (b) a minor injuries unit and (c) a walk-in-centre in each of the last three years; and what percentage of all attendances at accident and emergency departments this represented in each case. [218110]

3 Mar 2005 : Column 1362W

Ms Rosie Winterton: Data on the number of patients admitted to hospitals after attending minor injuries units and walk-in-centres are not held centrally. The number of patients admitted to hospital after attending a major accident and emergency department and the percentage of all attendances at a major accident and emergency department that this represents, is shown in the table.

Quarter Number of patients admitted through major A and E Patients admitted through A and E as a percentage
of first attendances
(major A and E)

2002–03

1 563,836 19

2 565,743 19

3 574,983 21

4 583,491 21

2003–04

1 584,987 19

2 604,515 19

3 637,406 21

4 640,840 22

2004–05

1 651,785 20

2 673,452 21

3 705,901 22

Source:
Department of Health QMAE.

Quarter	Number of patients admitted through major A and E	Patients admitted through A and E as a percentage of first attendances (major A and E)
2002–03
1	563,836	19
2	565,743	19
3	574,983	21
4	583,491	21

2003–04
1	584,987	19
2	604,515	19
3	637,406	21
4	640,840	22

2004–05
1	651,785	20
2	673,452	21
3	705,901	22

Epilepsy

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for first referral for a patient to see an epilepsy specialist; and what changes have occurred to this waiting time over the past five years. [219740]

Dr. Ladyman: Figures on waiting times for the treatment of neurological conditions are published but epilepsy is not separately identified.

Avian Influenza

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in developing a vaccine for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. [211550]

Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the amantadine vaccine as a (a) treatment and (b) prophylactic for avian influenza; [214755]

(2) what advice he has received from the Health Protection Agency on what vaccines or antivirals, and how many, to stockpile in preparation for an influenza pandemic; [214758]

(3) what vaccines, and at what minimum number of doses, his Department has assessed as sufficient to prevent an (a) influenza and (b) avian flu (i) pandemic and (ii) epidemic; [214759]

(4) what his Department's definition is of a pandemic; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of an (a) influenza pandemic and (b) avian influenza pandemic occurring in the next five years; [214760]

3 Mar 2005 : Column 1363W

(5) what estimate his Department has made of the total number of people in at risk groups for influenza, as defined by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence; [214761]

(6) what estimate his Department has made of the length of time, from February, it will take his Department to obtain the stockpiles of flu vaccines or antivirals necessary to cope with an (a) influenza and (b) avian flu (i) pandemic and (ii) epidemic; [214762]

(7) pursuant to his answer of 10 February to question 213139 on influenza vaccines, when the review will report. [217362]

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the current stocks of Oseltamivir are held by the NHS; and what plans he has to increase them; [218679]

(2) what assessment he has made of the risk of a pandemic of avian flu; and if he will make a statement. [218683]

Miss Melanie Johnson [holding answer 28 February 2005]: I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) on 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1080W.

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has in place to protect the UK against an influenza pandemic; and what emergency procedures are in place to protect vulnerable groups; [217618]

(2) what quantity of influenza vaccine the Government has stockpiled; [217619]

(3) what steps he will take to communicate advice and warnings to the public in the event of an influenza pandemic. [217620]

Miss Melanie Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member of Westbury (Dr. Murrison) on 1 March 2005, Official Report, column 1080W.

Meat Hygiene

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualifications and training the Food Standards Agency proposes to implement to comply with the requirement under EC Regulation 854/2004 that company meat inspectors in white meat plants undertake the same training and pass the same qualification as Government meat inspectors. [219003]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The board of the Food Standards Agency will be considering implementation of Regulation 854/2004 at its March meeting when a decision on how to implement this requirement is expected to be taken.

Mental Health

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) median and (b) mean waiting times for patients waiting to see a consultant psychiatrist as (i) an outpatient first attendance and (ii) an elective inpatient admission were, in each year since 1997. [216159]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the tables.

3 Mar 2005 : Column 1364W

Outpatient provider and commissioner waits for mental health specialities⁽³⁰⁾ quarterly from June 1996 (provider only) to December 2004 in England

Weeks

Waited (seen)
Provider
Commissioner

quarter Median Mean Median Mean

1996–97 June 3.83 6.94 n/a n/a

1996–97 September 3.81 7.04 n/a n/a

1996–97 December 3.75 7.17 n/a n/a

1996–97 March 3.86 6.74 n/a n/a

1997–98 June 3.91 6.88 4.08 7.23

1997–98 September 3.89 6.96 3.88 6.96

1997–98 December n/a n/a 3.63 6.47

1997–98 March 3.75 6.65 3.76 6.52

1998–99 June 3.84 6.61 3.89 6.72

1998–99 September 3.80 6.82 3.67 6.51

1998–99 December 3.69 6.77 3.61 6.57

1998–99 March 3.75 6.75 3.66 6.54

1999–2000 June 3.90 6.66 3.81 6.58

1999–2000 September 3.72 6.62 3.69 6.63

1999–2000 December 3.73 6.65 3.61 6.40

1999–2000 March 3.81 6.79 3.80 6.86

2000–01 June 3.81 6.65 3.70 6.53

2000–01 September 3.87 6.72 3.78 6.75

2000–01 December 3.72 6.67 3.63 6.55

2000–01 March 3.91 6.78 3.84 6.77

2001–02 June 4.32 6.86 4.02 6.95

2001–02 September 4.29 7.02 3.93 6.86

2001–02 December 3.83 6.76 3.67 6.77

2001–02 March 4.31 7.56 4.00 7.25

2002–03 June 4.51 6.94 4.18 6.88

2002–03 September 3.85 6.34 3.87 6.59

2002–03 December 3.75 5.97 3.84 6.37

2002–03 March 4.21 6.32 4.31 6.43

2003–04 June 3.92 5.92 3.89 5.90

2003–04 September 3.71 5.50 3.73 5.48

2003–04 December 3.64 5.38 3.76 5.54

2003–04 March 3.91 5.67 3.87 5.68

2004–05⁽³¹⁾ June 2.95 5.43 2.88 5.43

2004–05⁽³¹⁾ September 2.87 5.38 2.75 5.29

2004–05⁽³¹⁾ December 2.71 5.10 — —

n/a=not available.
⁽³⁰⁾Mental health specialists include mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy and old age psychiatry.
⁽³¹⁾Please note that after April 2004–05, the data has been provided using different time bands, which leads to a more accurate calculation of the mean and median.
Source:
Provider—QM08
Commissioner—QM08R

Inpatient provider and commissioner waits for mental health specialities⁽³²⁾ quarterly from June 1996 to December 2004 in England

Weeks

Waited (seen) Provider
Commissioner

quarter Median Mean Median Mean

1996–97 June 13.64 10.26 14.25 10.86

1996–97 September 14.65 10.67 13.37 9.88

1996–97 December 16.65 11.87 16.45 12.50

1996–97 March 14.39 10.66 14.14 10.69

1997–98 June n/a n/a 12.54 9.84

1997–98 September n/a n/a 11.46 8.82

1997–98 December n/a n/a 13.56 10.52

1997–98 March 12.34 9.50 12.61 9.70

1998–99 June 11.59 9.12 12.64 9.84

1998–99 September 11.09 8.97 11.69 9.15

1998–99 December 12.35 9.41 12.77 9.12

1998–99 March 10.99 8.46 12.15 8.84

1999–2000 June 12.70 9.81 12.19 9.40

1999–2000 September 11.76 8.78 12.54 8.53

1999–2000 December 11.93 8.95 13.03 8.58

1999–2000 March 10.20 8.03 12.64 8.45

2000–01 June 11.19 8.76 10.18 7.98

2000–01 September 10.26 8.54 8.85 7.55

2000–01 December 10.41 8.78 9.52 7.89

2000–01 March 11.01 8.98 10.49 8.68

2001–02 June 10.61 8.66 11.11 8.74

2001–02 September 11.12 9.00 11.76 9.13

2001–02 December 12.59 10.19 11.55 9.01

2001–02 March 12.40 9.89 9.86 8.11

2002–03 June 12.95 9.73 10.09 8.36

2002–03 September 11.86 9.09 9.49 8.09

2002–03 December 13.22 9.52 11.11 8.69

2002–03 March 12.79 8.80 9.20 7.51

2003–04 June 10.17 8.22 7.67 7.08

2003–04 September 10.40 8.43 7.65 7.13

2003–04 December 8.93 7.78 8.28 7.61

2003–04 March 8.97 7.89 9.29 8.10

2004–05⁽³³⁾ June 6.73 4.69 7.32 4.88

2004–05⁽³³⁾ September 6.47 4.01 6.75 4.19

2004–05⁽³³⁾ December 7.27 5.82 8.46 7.54

n/a=not available.
⁽³²⁾Mental health specialists include mental illness, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy and old age psychiatry.
⁽³³⁾Please note that after April 2004–05, the data has been provided using different time bands which leads to a more accurate calculation of the mean and median
Source:
Provider—KH07
Commissioner—QF01

3 Mar 2005 : Column 1365W

		Weeks
	Waited (seen)	Provider	Commissioner
	quarter	Median	Mean	Median	Mean
1996–97	June	3.83	6.94	n/a	n/a
1996–97	September	3.81	7.04	n/a	n/a
1996–97	December	3.75	7.17	n/a	n/a
1996–97	March	3.86	6.74	n/a	n/a
1997–98	June	3.91	6.88	4.08	7.23
1997–98	September	3.89	6.96	3.88	6.96
1997–98	December	n/a	n/a	3.63	6.47
1997–98	March	3.75	6.65	3.76	6.52
1998–99	June	3.84	6.61	3.89	6.72
1998–99	September	3.80	6.82	3.67	6.51
1998–99	December	3.69	6.77	3.61	6.57
1998–99	March	3.75	6.75	3.66	6.54
1999–2000	June	3.90	6.66	3.81	6.58
1999–2000	September	3.72	6.62	3.69	6.63
1999–2000	December	3.73	6.65	3.61	6.40
1999–2000	March	3.81	6.79	3.80	6.86
2000–01	June	3.81	6.65	3.70	6.53
2000–01	September	3.87	6.72	3.78	6.75
2000–01	December	3.72	6.67	3.63	6.55
2000–01	March	3.91	6.78	3.84	6.77
2001–02	June	4.32	6.86	4.02	6.95
2001–02	September	4.29	7.02	3.93	6.86
2001–02	December	3.83	6.76	3.67	6.77
2001–02	March	4.31	7.56	4.00	7.25
2002–03	June	4.51	6.94	4.18	6.88
2002–03	September	3.85	6.34	3.87	6.59
2002–03	December	3.75	5.97	3.84	6.37
2002–03	March	4.21	6.32	4.31	6.43
2003–04	June	3.92	5.92	3.89	5.90
2003–04	September	3.71	5.50	3.73	5.48
2003–04	December	3.64	5.38	3.76	5.54
2003–04	March	3.91	5.67	3.87	5.68
2004–05⁽³¹⁾	June	2.95	5.43	2.88	5.43
2004–05⁽³¹⁾	September	2.87	5.38	2.75	5.29
2004–05⁽³¹⁾	December	2.71	5.10	—	—

		Weeks
	Waited (seen)	Provider	Commissioner
	quarter	Median	Mean	Median	Mean
1996–97	June	13.64	10.26	14.25	10.86
1996–97	September	14.65	10.67	13.37	9.88
1996–97	December	16.65	11.87	16.45	12.50
1996–97	March	14.39	10.66	14.14	10.69
1997–98	June	n/a	n/a	12.54	9.84
1997–98	September	n/a	n/a	11.46	8.82
1997–98	December	n/a	n/a	13.56	10.52
1997–98	March	12.34	9.50	12.61	9.70
1998–99	June	11.59	9.12	12.64	9.84
1998–99	September	11.09	8.97	11.69	9.15
1998–99	December	12.35	9.41	12.77	9.12
1998–99	March	10.99	8.46	12.15	8.84
1999–2000	June	12.70	9.81	12.19	9.40
1999–2000	September	11.76	8.78	12.54	8.53
1999–2000	December	11.93	8.95	13.03	8.58
1999–2000	March	10.20	8.03	12.64	8.45
2000–01	June	11.19	8.76	10.18	7.98
2000–01	September	10.26	8.54	8.85	7.55
2000–01	December	10.41	8.78	9.52	7.89
2000–01	March	11.01	8.98	10.49	8.68
2001–02	June	10.61	8.66	11.11	8.74
2001–02	September	11.12	9.00	11.76	9.13
2001–02	December	12.59	10.19	11.55	9.01
2001–02	March	12.40	9.89	9.86	8.11
2002–03	June	12.95	9.73	10.09	8.36
2002–03	September	11.86	9.09	9.49	8.09
2002–03	December	13.22	9.52	11.11	8.69
2002–03	March	12.79	8.80	9.20	7.51
2003–04	June	10.17	8.22	7.67	7.08
2003–04	September	10.40	8.43	7.65	7.13
2003–04	December	8.93	7.78	8.28	7.61
2003–04	March	8.97	7.89	9.29	8.10
2004–05⁽³³⁾	June	6.73	4.69	7.32	4.88
2004–05⁽³³⁾	September	6.47	4.01	6.75	4.19
2004–05⁽³³⁾	December	7.27	5.82	8.46	7.54

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total expenditure on mental health services has been in each year in real terms since 1986, broken down as in Annex A of the further memorandum given by his Department to the Joint Select Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill. [216164]

Ms Rosie Winterton: The information is not available for the period requested. However, information on expenditure on mental health services in each year since 1993–94 has been placed in the Library. The information is from the hospital and community health service programme budget and does not include expenditure on people with mental health problems seen solely in primary care.

Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women detained voluntarily or involuntarily as psychiatric inpatients are detained in (i) high security NHS hospitals, (ii) other NHS facilities and (iii) private mental nursing homes. [216173]

Ms Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the format requested. On 31 March 2004, there were 7,727 men and 3,981 women detained in national health service facilities and 1,516 men and 776 women in independent hospitals (known until April 2002 as private mental nursing homes) under Parts II, III and X the Mental Health Act 1983. It is not possible to identify the number of detentions in high security NHS hospitals separately as the information is collected by NHS trusts.

Information on informal (voluntary) patients in hospital on 31 March 2004 is not available. However, there were 191,070 admissions to NHS hospitals under mental illness and learning disability specialties in 2003–04 as a whole.

3 Mar 2005 : Column 1366W

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