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22 Mar 2005 : Column 732W—continued
Winter Fuel Allowance
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Morecambe and Lunesdale received the winter fuel allowance in winter 2004–05. [223476]
Malcolm Wicks:
Information on the number of pensioners in Morecambe and Lunesdale who receive the winter fuel payment is in the Library.
22 Mar 2005 : Column 733W
HEALTH
MRI Scanners
14. Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the co-ordination of national contracts for MRI scanners with individual NHS hospital trust MRI scanner provision. [223091]
Mr. Hutton: It is for strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to ensure that the additional capacity procured through this exercise fits with what is required locally, together with future investment in diagnostic services delivered by the national health service.
The independent sector procurement programme is already helping to deliver faster access to high quality diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance imaging scans. This is excellent news for patients.
Neurological Intensive Care Beds
15. Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many neurological intensive care beds there are in England. [223093]
Dr. Ladyman: As at 13 January 2005, there were 80neurological intensive care beds in England.
The National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions, published on 10 March, sets out our vision for further improving access to health and social care for people with neurological conditions.
Dementia
16. Mr. Greenway : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of drugs to treat dementia. [223095]
Dr. John Reid: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has recently produced draft guidance on the use of drugs for Alzheimer's disease. This guidance is currently out for consultation. We will be responding shortly, and will seek to highlight the issues that we believe to be important.
Bluebell Surgery, Colchester
17. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make an official visit to the Bluebell surgery at Highwoods, Colchester to discuss the standard of accommodation. [223096]
Dr. Ladyman: I have no immediate plans to visit the Bluebell surgery in Colchester. However, I am advised that Colchester primary care trust has recently confirmed its commitment to building a new community facility that will also provide accommodation for staff and patients of the Bluebell surgery.
NHS Staff
18. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) other professionals in the NHS are foreign nationals or were trained abroad. [223097]
22 Mar 2005 : Column 734W
Mr. Hutton: Data of the nationality of doctors, nurse and other professionals working in the national health service are not held centrally.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) clinical staff were employed in (i) north and east Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire strategic health authority, (ii)Selby and York primary care trust and (iii) York hospitals NHS trust in (A) 1997 and (B) 2004. [222293]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested is shown in the table. Figures are not yet available for 2004.
n/a=Not applicable.
(24)All Practitioners (excluding retainers) include general medical service (QMS) unrestricted principals, personal medical service (PMS) contracted general practitioners, PMS salaried GPs, restricted principals, assistants, GP registrars, salaried doctors (para 52 SFA), PMS other, flexible career scheme GPs and GP returners.
(25)Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are also GPs working part-time in hospitals GP and GP practice nurse data as at 1 October 1997 and 30 September 2003.
(26)Following the formation of Selby and York primary care trust (PCT) in 2001, the provision of mental health services transferred to the PCT from the York health services NHS trust. The transfer of staff is reflected in the drop in figures from 1997 to 2003.
Sources:
Department of Health non-medical workforce census.
Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
Department of Health GMS and PMS statistics.
22 Mar 2005 : Column 735W
Primary Care
19. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the promotion of primary care to erode income-related health differentials. [223098]
Mr. Hutton: Last year, the Department announced 88 Spearhead primary care trusts, which are the 88 areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators. In the recent allocations round, Spearhead PCTs received above average growth. By 2007–08, Spearhead PCTs will be allocated £1552 per person, compared with an average for all PCTs of £1338 per person.
East Sussex Hospitals Trust
20. Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the numberof cancelled operations in East Sussex hospitals trust. [223099]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I am aware that there are concerns about the recent number of cancelled operations at East Sussex hospitals NHS trust.
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts, working with their strategic health authorities, councils and other stakeholders to plan, improve and sustain services for local people.
Leaders of the local health and social care organisations met early in March to discuss the operational problems faced by the hospital, and have agreed measures designed to help address these problems.
Solvent Abuse
21. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on levels of solvent abuse among young people. [223100]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The statistics on drug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England 2003 indicate that 8 per cent. of young people aged 11–15 abused solvent in 2003 compared with 6 per cent. in 2002.
While deaths from solvent abuse have continued todecline over the past 10 years, the Government are keen to see these fall further. We have therefore been working with a wide range of stakeholders and other Government Departments to develop a framework for volatile substance abuse which will be published shortly.
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