| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
3 Nov 2005 : Column 1338W—continued
Influenza Pandemic
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of the reserve forces in a pandemic. [23177]
Mr. Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
There is no specific pre-planned role for the armed forces in the event of a pandemic. In any urgent and extreme circumstances we would consider requests for the provision of military aid to the civil authorities, submitted in the normal way, which could be provided by drawing on regular or reserve personnel.
3 Nov 2005 : Column 1339W
Intensive Care Beds
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intensive care beds were available on average in the last period for which figures are available; and what the average occupancy rates were. [22181]
Mr. Byrne: The latest data available is for 2004–05. On average, there were 5,223 beds available in wards classified as intensive care in England. The occupancy rate was 78.2 per cent.
Intensive Therapy
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in Hertfordshire have intensive therapy unit facilities; and if she will make a statement. [21406]
Ms Rosie Winterton:
There are two national health service trusts in Hertfordshire, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust and West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, that provide beds in wards classified as intensive care: neonates, intensive care: paediatrics or intensive care: wholly or mainly adult in 2004–05. There are no data available at hospital level. Data are not available on an intensive care units basis.
3 Nov 2005 : Column 1340W
Intermediate Care
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intermediate care (a) beds and (b) supported places there are in England; how many older people have used them in each year since 2002; and if she will make a statement. [21410]
Mr. Byrne: The table shows the data collected centrally, which do not distinguish by age of service user.
Source:
Statistical summary to the chief executive's report to the national health service—13 May 2005.
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many intermediate care beds will be funded from the £66 million allocated for 2002–03 and 2003–04 in each strategic health authority; and if she will make a statement. [21411]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
Source:
Local delivery plan return, fourth quarter in each year.
3 Nov 2005 : Column 1341W
Junior Doctors
Mr. Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps her Department is taking to effect the transition between the present career structure for junior doctors and the changes outlined in Modernising Medical Careers; [19678]
(2) what assessment she has made of the implications for the career prospects of junior doctors of her proposal to phase out senior house officer posts in the national health service. [19679]
Mr. Byrne: All aspects of the implementation of modernising medical careers (MMC) are governed through the following structures.
The MMC United Kingdom strategy group, attended by the four UK chief medical officers, sets the strategic direction. Implementation in England is managed through the MMC programme delivery board. Input from a wide range of stakeholders is obtained through the MMC UK advisory board. There is also close working with individual stakeholders to manage different aspects of the process.
These bodies are currently developing and assessing the structure of specialist and general practitioner training, following the introduction of foundation programmes in August this year. Their work encompasses career structures and career prospects for junior doctors. Current senior house officers will not be disadvantaged in the new training system and MMC will be working closely with the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board and Medical Royal Colleges to ensure that all are treated fairly.
Lupus
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding has been allocated for research into (a) systemic lupus and (b) discoid lupus in 2005–06; and what steps are being taken to increase awareness of these conditions among medical professionals. [22087]
Mr. Byrne: It is not possible to provide data on research funding for lupus in 2005–06.
The main part of the Department's expenditure on health research is allocated to, and managed by, national health service organisations. Details of individual projects supported in the NHS, including a significant number concerned with lupus, are to be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research. The Medical Research Council (MRC), an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology, also funds medical research.
We intend that the musculoskeletal framework, a best practice guide to supporting people with musculoskeletal conditions, will be published later this year. This publication will do much to raise awareness amongst health professionals and the general public for all musculoskeletal conditions, including lupus.
Medical Staff (Training Costs)
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of training each (a) doctor, (b) nurse and (c) physiotherapist for the entire period between entering onto a degree or diploma course until
3 Nov 2005 : Column 1342W
full registration, inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs in the last period for which figures are available. [19130]
Mr. Byrne: Information for England on the average cost of training each nurse and physiotherapist for the entire period between entering onto a degree or diploma course until full registration, inclusive of tuition, bursary and salary support costs is shown in the table.
Source:
Financial and Workforce Information Return (FWIR) November 2004 and NHS Student Grant Unit for Nurse and Physiotherapists
In the period between entry to medical school and full registration, it is estimated that training a doctor costs between £200,000 and £250,000. Doctors generally continue training after full registration. As the duration and nature of post-registration training varies greatly and as service and training costs are closely related it is not possible to provide a meaningful estimate of the total cost of training.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |