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22 Nov 2005 : Column 1805W—continued
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on a full clinical assessment of the cost effectiveness of complementary and alternative medical therapies. [21420]
Jane Kennedy: There have been no formal discussions with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) about a full clinical assessment of the cost effectiveness of complementary and alternative medical therapies. However, NICE'S guidance on supportive and palliative care for cancer patients took the view that while there was little conclusive evidence of their effectiveness as a form of treatment, there was some evidence of their value to patients.
Departmental Expenditure (Child Care)
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on (a) child care and (b) child care vouchers for its staff in each of the last five years. [19724]
Jane Kennedy: The Department has a yearly budget allocation for a range of child care provision, including subsidised on-site play-scheme places, nursery and out-of-school allowances that are payable to eligible parents.
The total allocation is shown in the table.
| Amount allocated | |
|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 127,000 |
| 2004–05 | 220,000 |
| 2003–04 | 220,000 |
| 2002–03 | 270,000 |
| 2001–02 | 95,725 |
The Department does not currently offer child care vouchers to staff, but is currently reviewing its child care provision and is looking favourably at child care vouchers as part of a salary sacrifice scheme.
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Doctors
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to ensure that doctors trained in the UK are not lost to other countries if they are unable to secure a training post. [25321]
Mr. Byrne: The number of medically qualified hospital and community health services doctors in training and equivalents has increased from 29,572 in 1997 to 40,844 in September 2004, an increase of 11,272 (38 per cent.). The number of general practitioner registrars has increased from 1,343 in 1997 to 2,481 in June 2005, an increase of 1,138 (88 per cent.).
Training opportunities arise each week and a number of junior doctors have long taken up training posts outside the United Kingdom. Any doctor in training who experiences difficulty in obtaining a placement should seek help from their postgraduate dean. Departmental Officials have been working closely with the deans to ensure that help and advice is available.
Eating Disorders
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken by the Government to reduce the number of cases of eating disorders in young girls. [25895]
Caroline Flint: The issue of eating disorders among young people, especially young girls, is a serious problem. Anorexia in particular can have serious consequences for general health and has high rates of mortality.
In January 2004, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a guideline on the care of people with eating disorders. The guideline makes specific recommendations for the treatment of adolescents and young people in recognition of their unique needs. Some of the recommendations are:
Effective assessment of people with eating disorders, which includes co-ordination of care, the involvement of patients and their carers, providing good information, moral support and getting help early;
Involving family members, including siblings, in the treatment of children and adolescents with eating disorders. Interventions may include sharing of information, advice on behavioural management and facilitating communication;
Offering adolescents with bulimia cognitive behaviour therapy adapted as needed to suit their age, circumstances, level of development and including the family as appropriate; and
While each patient will have their own individual needs, the guideline gives clear recommendations on the type of treatments that are available and sets out a structured pathway of care. NICE have also published information for the public that explains the guideline and sets out what people with eating disorders can expect from the national health service.
There are opportunities to address healthy eating within the curriculum through science, design and technology and personal, social and health education (PSHE). Children learn about different types of food in the context of a balanced diet, nutrition, safety and hygiene. PSHE also offers scope for schools to explore how young people can access appropriate advice and support.
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Equal Pay Claims
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost to each NHS trust of legal fees for defending equal pay claims has been in each year since 1997; [25804]
(2) how many of the loans from her Department to each NHS trust since 1997 to cover the costs of equal pay claims have been repaid; and what the timescale was for each such repayment; [25805]
(3) how much has been lent by her Department to each NHS trust to cover the costs of equal pay claims in each year since 1997; [25806]
(4) what the interest rate was on each loan lent by her Department to NHS trusts to cover the costs of equal pay claims since 1997. [25833]
Mr. Byrne: Information about the cost of equal pay claims and associated legal costs is not available centrally. The Department of Health has not made any loans to NHS trusts for the costs of equal pay claims.
General Practitioners
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ratio of men to women general practitioners is. [26470]
Mr. Byrne: The number of general practitioners, excluding returners and registrars, as at 30 September 2004 was 31,523. Of these, 19,288 were men and 12,235 were women—a ratio of 1:0.63.
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the total number of statins and (b) the number per 1,000 population was prescribed by general practitioner practices in Dacorum Primary Care Trust for the years (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; and if she will make a statement. [27981]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
Notes:
ePACT Data
This information was obtained from the prescribing analysis and cost tool (PACT) system, which covers prescriptions prescribed by general practitioner (GP) practices in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. For data at PCT level, prescriptions written by a GP practice located in a particular PCT but dispensed outside that PCT will be included in the PCT in which the GP practice is based. Prescriptions written in England but dispensed outside England are included.
Prescriptions written in hospitals or clinics that are dispensed in the community, prescriptions dispensed in hospitals and private prescriptions are not included in PACT data. It is important to note this as some BNF sections have a high proportion of prescriptions written in hospitals that are dispensed in the community.
For example, BNF chapter 4, Central Nervous System" has a fair proportion of items written in mental health clinics that are dispensed in the community—these prescriptions are not included in PACT data.
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Healthcare Recruitment Agencies
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust has used healthcare recruitment agencies based outside the UK for the recruitment of healthcare professionals from developing countries since the Code of Practice was agreed; and if she will make a statement. [25932]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.
The Code of Practice for the International Recruitment of Healthcare Professionals identifies guiding principles to promote high standards in the recruitment and employment of healthcare professionals from overseas. It is also concerned with the protection of developing countries and seeks to prevent targeted recruitment from developing nations who are experiencing shortages of healthcare staff.
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