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21 Nov 2005 : Column 1725W—continued
NHS Trusts
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts in England are (a) in deficit and (b) in surplus; and what the aggregate financial position is of all NHS trusts in England. [24618]
Mr. Byrne: The 2004–05 audited financial position of all national health service organisations (strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS trusts) is available in the Library. It is also available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOf Information/fs/en
This information includes those NHS trusts that ended 2004–05 with an underspend and those NHS trusts that reported an overspend.
NHS Staff (Overseas Recruitment)
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and midwives and (b) doctors have been recruited through bilateral agreements or memoranda of understanding with (i) India, (ii) Indonesia, (iii) the Philippines, (iv) South Africa, and (v) Spain in each year that such agreements and memoranda have been in operation. [26858]
Mr. Byrne
[holding answer 10 November 2005]: We have bilateral agreements or memoranda of understanding with India, Indonesia, Philippines, South Africa and Spain. The numbers of doctors and nurses registering with the General Medical Council (GMC)
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and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in each year that such agreements and memoranda have been in operation are shown in tables 1 and 2.
Note:
These tables relate to registration and therefore do not identify where the individual was employed or even if the individual secured employment in the United Kingdom.
Nurses
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses per 100 beds there have been in (a) England and (b) the West Suffolk hospital in each year since 1997. [25073]
Mr. Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
Note:
Nurses per 100 bed figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Source:
Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census Department of Health form KH03
Nutrition
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2005, ref 18939, concerning nutrition in care homes, what issues were discussed with the nutritional advisory group. [22366]
Mr. Byrne: I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the range of issues the Commission has discussed with the Nutritional Advisory Group for the Elderly (NAGE) is as follows.
Reviewing and updating guidance, on the management of nutrition and dietary care for people in care homes.
When providers should seek expert advice on the nutritional and dietary needs of the people they care for.
Obesity
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by her Department on
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advertising the effects obesity has on causing (a) hypertension, (b) diabetes and (c) cardiovascular disease in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [18334]
Caroline Flint: The message that obesity is a major contributor to coronary heart disease, stroke and type two diabetes, is highlighted in the Chief Medical Officer's report At least Five a Week" and Choosing Health", the White Paper. Both reports emphasise the importance of healthy eating and participating in regular physical activity in order to remain healthy.
Reducing obesity is one of the six overarching priorities in the White Paper, which sets out a comprehensive plan of action including curbs on marketing. Current action to tackle obesity includes further restrictions on food promotion to children, the reform of the welfare food scheme into healthy start, the healthy schools programme, the 5 A DAY programme and the school fruit and vegetable scheme.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to tackle obesity in (a) children and (b) adults. [25096]
Caroline Flint: Reducing obesity is one of the six overarching priorities of the Choosing Health" White Paper, published in November 2004. In July 2004, the Government set a public service agreement (PSA) target to halt the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole.
The White Paper delivery plan, Delivering Choosing Health: making healthier choices easier", together with discrete plans focusing on nutrition, Choosing a Better Diet a food and health action plan" and physical activity, Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan" published in March 2005 set out how the White Paper commitments will be delivered and how they will contribute to delivery of the obesity target.
Action in the national health service—more effective practical action to manage, prevent and treat obesity.
Patient Choice
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely impact on choice and plurality within the NHS of the policy set out in Commissioning a patient-led NHS; and if she will make a statement. [20394]
Mr. Byrne:
To give patients choice, especially in areas of significant health inequalities, we need to encourage innovation and new models of provision and commission services from providers who can prove to be more responsive to patients' needs and expectations. By strengthening the commissioning function of primary
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care trusts (PCTs) through Commissioning a patient-led NHS, we are further enabling them to achieve these important aims.
Any proposed changes to the local provision of primary and community healthcare services will be subject to full local consultation and be based on PCT decisions taken locally.
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