---

31 Oct 2005 : Column 849W—continued

Private Health Centres

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how the locations of new private health centres providing services to the NHS will be determined; and what assessment will be made of their impact on local health economies; [17425]

(2) whether she plans to consult (a) local communities, (b) local authorities, (c) local patient forums and (d) local community groups and associations on the possible location of new private health centres that will provide services to the NHS. [17426]

Mr. Byrne: External procurements for both primary and secondary care have been developed with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of local requirements specifying when necessary desired locations as commissioners, SHAs and PCTs are expected to assess and plan for the impact on their local health economies.

It is for SHAs and PCTs to decide whether, how and who to consult and take into account the consultation requirements of Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of whether a conflict of interest arises for employees of the NHS who may hold shares in new private health centres providing services to the NHS; and if she will make a statement. [17427]

 
31 Oct 2005 : Column 850W
 

Mr. Byrne: No specific assessment has been made. There are long-established rules, whereby employees of the national health service are expected to declare any possible conflicts of interest.

Professional Health Courses

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to change the funding of professional health courses; and if she will make a statement. [21143]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 24 October 2005]: There are no current plans to change the funding of professional health courses. The national health service will continue to contract with higher education institutes for non-medical education and training. The Secretary of State keeps the funding arrangements under constant review to ensure that the wide range of education and training of health professions is supported in the best way possible.

Public Consultation (Closures)

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many community and college hospitals are planned for closure, subject to local public consultations procedures; and how many beds this represents; [17701]

(2) how many NHS hospital beds are planned for closure subject to local public consultation procedures; [17702]

(3) how many NHS hospital beds have closed since May; how many were (a) intermediate care and (b) rehabilitation beds; and how many further closures are planned in each case. [17703]

Mr. Byrne: The information requested is not centrally collected.

Rehabilitation Services

Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to integrate delivery of rehabilitation services across the NHS and social services departments. [20422]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 21 October 2005]: We expect local health and social care communities to work together with other voluntary and statutory agencies to take a community wide approach to developing a jointly agreed commissioning plan for services. Changes we are making in the national health service, such as payment by results and commissioning a patient-led NHS, will help to draw health and social care together. The national service framework for long-term conditions, issued in March this year, emphasises that rehabilitation is most effective when health and social care bodies work collaboratively with each other. The detail of which model of service best suits the needs of local people is a local matter to be determined by the NHS and social services working in partnership.

Scanning Services

Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 4 October 2005 concerning mobile scanning units, how her Department defines modest revenue costs. [18097]

 
31 Oct 2005 : Column 851W
 

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 14 October 2005]: As indicated in my reply of 5 October 2005, Official Report, column 2841W, this information is not centrally collected. However, the Department estimates that the modest cost would be in the region of £100–£200 on an estimated stay of seven to 14 days, depending on the length of the time the Alliance Medical Ltd. mobile unit is on site

Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology was used to calculate value for money in the contract with Alliance Medical Ltd. for scans. [19059]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 18 October 2005]: Value for money from the services procured from Alliance Medical Ltd. for the mobile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and reporting services was ensured with a quality specification and comparison with the latest available national health service MRI direct access tariff information at the time the contract was negotiated.

Sexual Health

Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to make schoolchildren aware of the services provided by sexual health clinics. [22348]

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.

One of the aims of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, is to improve access to contraceptive and sexual health advice services for young people who are sexually active.

The national media campaign stresses the importance of using condoms to protect against unplanned pregnancies and STIs and highlights the availability of confidential advice for young people on sexual health issues. The campaign also includes messages on the benefits of delaying sexual activity and resisting peer pressure to have sex before they are ready.

Guidance on Sex and Relationships Education issued by DfES in 2000 recommends that schools should provide young people with details on how they can access services and the Government are also promoting the development of on-site health advice services in a range of non-traditional settings, such as in schools, FE colleges and Connexions Centres.

Sleep Apnoea

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on services for sufferers of sleep apnoea. [21324]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 25 October 2005]: Patients with sleep apnoea are able to access a range of national health service and social care services, tailored to meet their individual needs, to help them manage their condition. It is for health professionals in primary care organisations, in consultation with other stakeholders, to determine which services their populations require and ensure the appropriate level of provision.

The national service framework (NSF) for long term conditions, while specifically aimed at people with neurological conditions, is relevant for people with all long-term conditions, including sleep apnoea. The NSF
 
31 Oct 2005 : Column 852W
 
addresses a range of key issues including the need for equitable access to a range of services; good quality information and support for patients and carers; the ability to see a specialist and get the right investigations and diagnosis as quickly as possible.

Smoking

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact on the health of people in Liverpool of (a) a partial ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants as proposed in the White Paper and (b) a total ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants; and if she will make a statement. [17893]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 14 October 2005]: No assessment has been made specifically for Liverpool. The Government published a partial regulatory impact assessment as part of the Smokefree Elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill", the consultation paper launched this summer. This contained estimates of the health impact of different options. A copy is available in the Library.

Supporting People" Initiative

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions her Department has had with the Association of Directors of Social Services on the Supporting People" initiative. [21684]

Mr. Byrne [holding answer 25 October 2005]: The Department has not had formal discussions with the Association of Directors of Social Services of the Supporting People" initiative recently. We are, however, in regular discussions with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the supporting people programme.

---