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7 Nov 2005 : Column 222W—continued
Medical Negligence
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid out due to medical negligence in each health board in each of the last 10 years. [25149]
Mr. Woodward: Amounts paid in settlement of clinical negligence claims in relation to the previous four years is detailed in the following table:
| 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EHSSB | 2,527 | 3,845 | 6,395 | 3,266 |
| NHSSB | 1,775 | 5,633 | 1,026 | 3,590 |
| SHSSB | 629 | 962 | 5,638 | 3,845 |
| WHSSB | 2,484 | 3,112 | 2,135 | 1,020 |
| Total | 7,415 | 13,552 | 15,194 | 11,721 |
The information relating to the previous six years is not readily available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The amount paid in any one year in respect of clinical negligence can vary considerably due to the uncertain timing of the settlement of cases.
Mobile Classrooms
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in each education board in Northern Ireland make use of temporary mobile classroom accommodation; and what the timetable is for the replacement of this accommodation in each board. [24155]
Angela E. Smith: The number of schools using temporary accommodation was 694 at 31 March 2005. The following table details the number of schools by board area.
Board area | Number of schools with temporary classrooms |
|---|---|
| Belfast | 58 |
| Western | 154 |
| North Eastern | 165 |
| South Eastern | 121 |
| Southern | 196 |
| Total | 694 |
Temporary classrooms are removed through a combination of major capital schemes and the Strategic Investment Programme (formerly Reinvestment and Reform initiative) which provides funding specifically to remove temporary classrooms. As a result of the increase in capital funding for major works in recent years around 700 temporary classrooms will be removed from 80 schools as these schemes come to fruition over the next few years. The programme of capital investment is planned to continue over the coming years and it is expected that this will remove further temporary classrooms from the estate. There is no timetable for the removal of all temporary accommodation as temporary classrooms can provide an appropriate solution to meet immediate accommodation needs.
Multiple Sclerosis
Mark Durkan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the
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impact of prescription price reductions for multiple sclerosis disease modifying treatments (DMTs) since 2002; what change there has been in (a) the cost per person in each year, (b) the numbers of multiple sclerosis patients receiving DMTs in each board area in each year, (c) the waiting lists and waiting times for DMTs in each board area in each year and (d) the expenditure by each board on DMTs in each year; and if he will make a statement. [23362]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is as follows:
(a) Since 2002, disease modifying therapies for people with multiple sclerosis have been provided under a UK-wide risk sharing scheme agreed between the UK health departments and the product manufacturers. Costs vary according to which drug a patient is prescribed. The cost per patient per year of the drugs being supplied to the health service for the purposes of the scheme are:
| Cost per patient per year | |
|---|---|
| Avonex | 8,502 |
| Betaferon | 7,259 |
| Copaxone | 5,823 |
| Rebif | |
| Lower dose | 7,513 |
| Higher dose | 8,942 |
These costs have remained unchanged since 2002.
(b) The number of patients receiving disease modifying treatments in each board area in each year for which information is available is shown in the following. These figures include patients on break from treatment.
| 30 April 2003(78) | 30 April 2004(78) | 30 April 2005 | 30 September 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 171 | 200 | 220 | 219 |
| Northern | 123 | 159 | 176 | 179 |
| Southern | 72 | 100 | 104 | 103 |
| Western | 76 | 74 | 73 | 75 |
| Total | 442 | 533 | 573 | 576 |
(78) Information on DMTs was not collected by the Department on a regular basis prior to May 2004; these earlier figures have been provided by Royal Group of Hospitals Trust.
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(c) Information on the number of patients waiting for treatment in each board area in each year for which information is available is shown in the following table. Comparable information on waiting lists for disease modifying treatment was not collected on a regular basis prior to September 2004.
| 30 September 2004 | 31 March 2005 | 30 September 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern | 10 | 30 | 56 |
| Northern | 33 | 34 | 56 |
| Southern | 11 | 7 | 16 |
| Western | 16 | 16 | 19 |
| Total | 70 | 87 | 147 |
Notes:
1. Patients currently suspended from the waiting list are excluded from these figures.
2. Information is not available on waiting times.
(d) The boards have advised that expenditure on DMTs in each year was as shown in the following table.
| Eastern | Northern | Southern | Western(79) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 1,435,745 | 993,850 | 558,862 | 438,132 |
| 2003–04 | 1,544,745 | 1,150,891 | 714,420 | 439,930 |
| 2004–05 | 1,637,315 | 1,267,089 | 796,111 | 565,149 |
(79) Excludes healthcare at home costs
The Department will continue to seek to improve access to specialist medicines, which offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care. This year, an estimated £4.7 million will be spent on providing disease-modifying therapies for people with multiple sclerosis.
NHS Complaints
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints have been made against each health trust in the Province in each of the last five years. [24859]
Mr. Woodward: The information requested is as follows:
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NHS Outsourcing
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to each health board in Northern Ireland of contracting procedures out to the private sector has been in each of the last five years. [25225]
Mr. Woodward: The cost of procedures purchased by each health board from the private sector in each of the last five years is as follows:
(80) Figures for Northern Board are not available for 2000–01
(81) figure includes MRJ scans
The information provided in the table relates to transfers to and from a number of different hospitals over the five years.
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