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4 Jul 2005 : Column 201W—continued
Waste Collection
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of collecting household rubbish per household in Northern Ireland has been in each year since 1997. [7832]
Angela E. Smith: The information requested was not held centrally until 2002–03. The following figures reflect the cost per household of collecting household waste for the financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Information for 2004–05 is not yet available.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 33.51 |
| 2003–04 | 34.63 |
HEALTH
Adverse Drug Reactions (Older People)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her most recent estimate is of the number of (a) 50 to 64-year-olds, (b) 65 to 74-year-olds and (c) over 75-year-olds who (i) died and (ii) were injured in a year as a result of adverse drug reactions. [6658]
Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's pharmacovigilance database does not hold specific information on the number of people who were injured as a result of an adverse drug reaction (ADR).
The table shows the total number and number of fatal of suspected adverse" drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the yellow card scheme from 1 January to 31 December 2004 for each age group.
Age (years) | Number of adverse drug reaction reports | Number of fatal adverse drug reaction reports |
|---|---|---|
| 50–64 | 4,017 | 180 |
| 65–74 | 2,727 | 143 |
| 75+ | 2,390 | 194 |
It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease. It is particularly important to note that causality has not been established for fatal reports.
4 Jul 2005 : Column 202W
Alliance Medical Ltd.
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors were taken into consideration when determining whether Alliance Medical should provide scanning services in the NHS. [2253]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 6 June 2005]: The contract was negotiated based on increasing clinical capacity, improving patient care, an ability to deliver service and value for money.
Alliance Medical Ltd. demonstrated its ability to provide additional radiologists and radiographers to carry out the scans and reports, which was an important aspect to the procurement. The contract was secured at a competitive price compared to the NHS equivalent cost and makes use of 12 mobile scanning units to provide high quality services direct to patients in response to the changing requirements of the national health service.
Alzheimer's Disease
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken to assist carers of patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease in Hornsey and Wood Green; and if she will make a statement. [7805]
Jane Kennedy: All carers, including those caring for people with dementia, are entitled to an assessment to determine their needs as carers and eligibility for support. This Government have supported legislation, which supports all carers in their caring role. The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 strengthens the rights of carers to an assessment of their own needs as carers. The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 introduces new provisions that will ensure that carers are made aware of this right.
The carers grant, worth £185 million this year, provides money for local councils to provide short breaks and services to carers to enable them to continue in their caring role. Carers are also entitled to cash payments for carers' services to enable them to purchase the type of support they require and promote a better quality of life.
At local level, Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust has worked with London borough of Haringey, service providers, the voluntary sector and carers to create a carer's strategy for Haringey. The strategy addresses the needs of carers of all types of patients and incorporates the requirements of the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 in terms of opportunities for work, education, training and life-long learning. An action plan, based on the recommendations in the strategy, is being finalised at present and should be implemented shortly.
Antipsychotic Medication
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were issued in each of the last five years for (a) atypical, (b) traditional and (c) all antipsychotic medication in each (i) region and (ii)health authority for (A) 0 to 15 years, (B) 16 to 59 years and (C) 60 years and over age groups. [2909]
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Jane Kennedy [pursuant to the reply, 15 June 2005, Official Report, c. 499–500W]: I regret that the table placed in the Library in my previous reply is incorrect. The total for the category aged 60 and over states 96,000 items were dispensed in 2003, and it should read 950,000.
This incorrect figure was also given in the table in the reply to the hon. Member on 27 January 2005, Official Report, column 544W. The correct tables will be placed in the Library.
4 Jul 2005 : Column 204W
Arm's-length Bodies
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes outlined in the Department's Implementation Framework for reconfiguring its arm's length bodies, published on 30 November 2004, will require (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation. [3357]
Jane Kennedy: The changes outlined in the Department's implementation framework for reconfiguring its arm's length bodies will require legislation affecting the following bodies as shown in the table.
(86)Human Tissue Authority—set up April 2005, to be absorbed into the Regulatory Authority for Tissue and Embryology in April 2008.
(87)It has yet to be decided whether these changes will require any kind of legislation.
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