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Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to develop wards specifically for young cancer patients. [25118]
Ms Rosie Winterton: In October 2004, we published the national service framework for children, young people which recommended the importance of providing children and young people with access to high quality, age appropriate services whatever the setting.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published in August 2005 guidance on Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People with Cancer". This guidance addresses access to age appropriate facilities and places of care. The National Cancer Director has established an advisory group of major stakeholders to facilitate the implementation of the guidance, but ultimately it will be for local commissioners, via their cancer networks and local service providers, to ensure that the services they provide meet the recommendations in this guidance.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (b) Ofgem, (c) the Health and Safety Commission and (d) CORGI with regards to the proposal from the Health and Safety Commission for a levy on the gas industry to fund a watchdog to promote carbon monoxide awareness; and if she will make a statement. [25278]
Caroline Flint:
Officials in the Department are in regular contact with officials in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). These contacts ensure that there is a shared understanding of the effects of carbon monoxide on health. Strategies for reducing cases of accidental poisoning are discussed regularly. The Chief Medical Officer often draws attention to the dangers of exposure
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to carbon monoxide in his CMO update letter to doctors. A leaflet, for distribution to all General Practices will be distributed in November. The leaflet has been endorsed by HSE, The Solid Fuel Association, CORGI, CO-Gas Safety and the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister assisted in the drafting of the leaflet. The leaflet is entitled Carbon Monoxide: Risks to health and how to avoid them".
The combined emphasis on prevention of poisoning and recognition of poisoning reflects the cross-department approach to this important problem. The Department has not discussed the proposal for a levy on the gas industry to fund a watchdog to promote carbon monoxide awareness; this is a matter for the HSE.
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many (a) children and (b) adults are awaiting cochlear implants in each region of England; what projections have been made for the number of cochlear implant treatments over the next five years; what resources have been allocated to this; and if she will make a statement; [25719]
(2) what guidance has been given to primary care trusts in relation to the allocation of resources for cochlear implantation treatment; [25720]
(3) how many (a) children and (b) adults were provided with cochlear implants in each region of England in the last five years. [25744]
Mr. Byrne: Information on the numbers of people waiting for cochlear implants and the projected demand is not held centrally. It is for primary care trusts to determine the allocation of resources for their local population based on local need.
The number of children and adults who were provided with cochlear implants in each region of England is shown in the table.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been of equal pay claims in each year since 1997, broken down by NHS trust. [25725]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 7 November 2005]: Information about the cost of equal pay claims and associated legal costs is not available centrally.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria she used to assess the suitability of the candidates before she appointed (a) the chairman and (b) the non-executive directors of the West Gloucestershire primary care trust. [25371]
Caroline Flint:
The Secretary of State has delegated the responsibility for the appointment of chairs and members of primary care trusts to the NHS Appointments Commission, of which the Chair is Sir William Wells.
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Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to monitor the number of intermediate care bed places in the community hospitals sector. [26001]
Mr. Byrne: Data on the number of intermediate care beds, the number of places in non-residential intermediate care schemes and the number of people using intermediate care are collected. There are no plans to expand the collection.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on free contraception for women in each year since 1997. [25906]
Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
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