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27 Jun 2005 : Column 1344W—continued
Care Homes
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the Department's review of national minimum standards for care homes. [6662]
Mr. Byrne: The Department plans to complete the review of the national minimum standards in 2006. The results will be published after that.
Clinical Trials Directive
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive on the viability of future UK research projects. [3261]
Jane Kennedy: The Government aim to build on the United Kingdom's reputation as an excellent place for clinical research. With partners, it established the UK clinical research collaboration (UKCRC) to co-ordinate major new investment in clinical research infrastructure. The UKCRC includes Government and other public funders of research, as well as industry and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
It is too soon to assess the effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive. The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No. 1031) came into force on 1 May 2004. They implemented Directive 2001/20/EC in the UK. That Directive required the Commission to publish detailed guidelines on good clinical practice The Commission published a
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Good Clinical Practice Directive (2005/28/EC) in April2005. Member states are required to implement it by January 2006. The Commission has yet to publish related guidelines for non-commercial trials.
The Government are committed to make an assessment as soon as reliable evidence is available. The MHRA acts as the licensing authority for all clinical trials within the scope of the Directive. It has asked the UKCRC to review the evidence to date, consider how to reduce any adverse regulatory impact and agree plans for long-term monitoring. Cancer Research UK and the national clinical research network have undertaken initial assessments of opinion about the effect of the Directive on cancer clinical trials across the UK. Other assessments are being carried out at the European level with the Federation of European Cancer Societies. The UKCRC core team has agreed to bring together findings from these and other studies.
The Government welcome the important contributions that Cancer Research UK and other stakeholders are making in monitoring the implementation of the Clinical Trials Directive, and will consider their findings carefully.
Clostridium Difficile
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) the Health Protection Agency and (b) her Department have been informed of cases of Clostridium difficile 027 at hospitals in England other than Stoke Mandeville. [5550]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 20 June 2005]: Cases of Clostridium difficile 027 have occurred in Preston, Birmingham, Winchester, Bristol, Romford, Southampton, Truro, Carshalton, High Wycombe, South Tyneside, Newcastle, South Tees, Sunderland, Stoke Mandeville and Exeter. As of 16 June 2005, 75 isolates of Clostridium difficile 027 had been received by the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory in Cardiff, being reported to the Health Protection Agency and the Department.
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether her Department plans to issue guidance to NHS hospital trusts on the typing of samples from cases of Clostridium difficile in order to measure the incidence of Clostridium difficile 027; [5734]
(2) if she will make a statement on the laboratory capacity available to the NHS to type samples from cases of Clostridium difficile; [5735]
(3) how many laboratories are available to the NHS to type samples from cases of Clostridium difficile. [5736]
Jane Kennedy
[holding answer 20 June 2005]: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) have issued guidance to the national health service on the collection of Clostridium difficile samples, as part of the mandatory surveillance of Clostridium difficile infection. Typing of Clostridium difficile 027 is conducted by the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory in Cardiff, which has one the largest collection of Clostridium difficile isolates in the world and has also developed this typing scheme. Other NHS laboratories do not have the specialist expertise required.
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Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire; [4977]
(2) what research her Department has commissioned regarding the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire. [4978]
Jane Kennedy: It was announced last week that there would be an independent inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital. Officials are speaking to the Healthcare Commission about the possible terms of reference and scope for an investigation. Research needs may arise from this inquiry but the first priority remains to ensure that the outbreak at Stoke Mandeville hospital is under control and this process will include epidemiological and laboratory analyses.
Colindale Hospital (Staff Housing)
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make an assessment of the requirement for (a) key worker housing for NHS staff and (b) affordable housing before deciding on (i) the basis for marketing and (ii) the actual sale of the Colindale hospital site once it is surplus to NHS requirements; and if she will make a statement. [5833]
Jane Kennedy: This is a local matter. The land at Colindale hospital is held by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust.
Of the 724 dwellings, 37 per cent. are proposed to be affordable or key worker accommodation representing 49 per cent. of the total number of habitable rooms. The Greater London authority has been consulted and has expressed support due to the affordable and key worker accommodation comprising predominantly family accommodation. The trust is satisfied that this is sufficient to meet their accommodation needs.
Cumberland Infirmary
David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she proposes to take to tackle hygiene failings at the Cumberland Infirmary identified in the recent Patient and Public Forum report; [6277]
(2) which of the conclusions of the Patient and Public Forum investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary she (a) accepts and (b) does not accept; [6278]
(3) what action she plans to take following the recent Patient and Public Forum investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary. [6279]
Mr. Byrne: This is a matter for the North Cumbria Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust to whom the recent patient and public involvement forum Bug Watch" report was submitted. Trusts have a duty to respond to the reports of patient and public involvement forums setting out what action they will take to respond to the recommendations that have been made.
Dementia
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care places are available in each strategic health authority for people with early onset dementia. [5106]
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Mr. Byrne:
Data are not available in the form requested. However, information on the number of residential care places for adults with mental health problems aged 18 and over at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table by strategic health authority.
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I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
Source:
RA Form A
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