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13 Feb 2006 : Column 1787W—continued
NHS Restructuring
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in her Department are involved in policy work on the proposed restructuring of the NHS in England, broken down by grade; and how many are secondees from NHS trusts. [21609]
Mr. Byrne: The senior officer responsible for commissioning a patient led national health service is Sir Ian Carruthers seconded from the NHS. He is supported by a central team of 14 permanent staff, three of whom are secondees from the NHS. This includes three senior civil servants. The remaining posts are all in the integrated payband.
NHS Trusts
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 151W, on NHS trusts, what assessment will be made of the value of turnaround teams. [49160]
Jane Kennedy: The turnaround teams were announced by the Secretary of State in a ministerial statement on 1 December 2005, Official Report, column 37WS.
The first stage of this is a baseline assessment, the aim of which is to ensure there is an agreed understanding of the local financial problem and that actions are in hand to address this. Following the assessment, the local national health service will identify the actions needed to return the organisations to financial balance and what tailored support is needed to support local management.
The value of the teams will be assessed through the delivery of turnaround in the organisations concerned.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2006, Official Report, column 1675W, on NHS trusts (mergers), what savings were anticipated in the risk analysis submitted for each planned merger of acute trusts in the last five years; and what steps were taken to monitor whether the predicted outcomes were achieved. [47851]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 2 February 2006]: In considering proposals for mergers, Ministers need to be satisfied that the lead strategic health authority (SHA) has presented a case that demonstrates the trust's ongoing delivery and development of services, and clinical and financial viability. SHAs are charged with performance managing trusts including ensuring the benefits of any merger are realised.
Older People's National Service Framework
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the National Clinical Director for Older People to publish his report Next Steps for Older People's National Service Framework. [49532]
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Mr. Byrne: Professor Ian Philp, the National Clinical Director for Older People, plans to publish his Next Steps" report by the end of April.
Overseas Nurses
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the qualifications of (a) Russian and (b) Pakistani overseas-trained nurses meet the standards required for admission to the Overseas Nursing Programme. [21224]
Mr. Byrne: The nursing and midwifery council is responsible for the overseas nursing programme and for assessing the training and qualifications of nurses trained outside the United Kingdom and the European economic area.
Pain Relief (Children)
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the drugs licensed for use in the NHS to provide pain relief for children. [48082]
Jane Kennedy: The following medicines are licensed in the United Kingdom and available on the national health service for the treatment of pain in children.
Non-steroidal anti-infammatory drugs (NSAIDs):
Information about the licensed indications and prescribing advice for doctors for all of these medicines is published in the British National Formulary for Children which is available in the Library.
Parkinson's Disease
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of funding for research into treatment for Parkinson's disease has been in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement. [47348]
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding her Department has provided for research into Parkinson's disease in each of the last eight years. [48863]
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Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
n/a = not available
(66) The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
(67) The definition used to identify projects eligible for inclusion in this area of expenditure changed with effect from 2002–03.
(68) The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the NHS.
Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. From this funding, the NHS reported spending in support of research related to older people and on neurological conditions as follows:
| £ million | ||
|---|---|---|
| Older people | Neurological conditions | |
| 2001–02 | 37 | n/a |
| 2002–03 | 34 | 28 |
| 2003–04 | 39 | 30 |
| 2004–05 | 40 | 27 |
n/a = not available
This expenditure data was not collected centrally prior to 2002. Details of individual projects, including projects to do with Parkinson's disease, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.
Parliamentary Questions
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to answer the question from the hon. Member for Northavon tabled on 31 October for answer on 2 November, reference 24525, on child protection. [47985]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 2 February 2006]: A reply was given to the hon. Member on 1 February 2006, Official Report, column 969W.
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will reply to the Questions tabled by the hon. Member for Woking, reference (a) 44640, (b) 44641, (c) 44644 and (d) 44117. [48626]
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Mr. Byrne [holding answer 6 February 2006]: Answers were given to the hon. Member on 6 February, 2 February, 31 January and 7 February respectively.
Partnerships for Older People
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where partnerships for older people projects are being piloted; when the introduction of these projects was first announced; and if she will make a statement. [49525]
Mr. Byrne: The Secretary of State announced that there would be 19 sites piloting partnerships for older people projects on 8 November 2005. The successful partnerships are in Bradford, Brent, Camden, Dorset, East Sussex, Knowsley, Leeds, Luton, Manchester, Norfolk, North Lincolnshire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Poole, Sheffield, Somerset, Southwark, Wigan and Worcestershire. In total, the pilot sites will cover about 150,000 older people. Funding will be made available to the successful applicants during April 2006 and pilots are expected to commence their projects by 1 May 2006 at the latest.
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