House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 29 Mar 2006 (pt 19)

29 Mar 2006 : Column 1041W—continued

NORTHERN IRELAND

Ambulance Service (Ards Peninsula)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) ambulances and

29 Mar 2006 : Column 1042W

(b) emergency ambulances cover the Ards Peninsula (i) on weekdays, (ii) at weekends, (A) during the day and (B) overnight. [62106]

Mr. Woodward: Cover for the Ards Peninsula is provided by A and E ambulances from Newtownards and Bangor ambulance stations. Shift patterns for these stations are shown in the following table. The figures refer to the number of ambulance crews available during each shift. There is no difference between ambulances" and emergency ambulances".

Shift Patterns Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Ards

08:00–20:00 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

10:30–21:00 1 1 1 1 1 — —

08:00–15:30 1 1 1 1 1 — —

20:00–08:00 1 1 1 2 2 1 1

20:00–07:00 — — 1 — — 1 1

Bangor

08:00–20:00 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

20:00–08:00 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Shift Patterns	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Ards
08:00–20:00	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
10:30–21:00	1	1	1	1	1	—	—
08:00–15:30	1	1	1	1	1	—	—
20:00–08:00	1	1	1	2	2	1	1
20:00–07:00	—	—	1	—	—	1	1

Bangor
08:00–20:00	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
20:00–08:00	2	2	2	2	2	2	2

In addition, one rapid response vehicle is deployed in the area every day from 8 am to 8 pm.

While cover is generally provided from the Newtownards and Bangor stations, the Northern Ireland ambulance service will send the nearest available ambulance to an emergency incident if the local vehicles are already deployed.

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average response time for (a) ambulances and (b) emergency ambulances to calls along the Ards Peninsula was in the last period for which figures are available. [62107]

Mr. Woodward: In February 2006, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service responded to 31 calls in the Ards Peninsula area, with an average response time of 21 minutes and 4 seconds. There is no difference between ambulances" and emergency ambulances".

Civil Service

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many (a) men, (b) women, (c) Catholics and (d) Protestants are employed by the Northern Ireland civil service at (i) grade 7, (ii) deputy principal grade and (iii) staff officer grade; [36980]

(2) when he will provide a substantive answer to Question 36980 tabled by the hon. Member for Foyle on 7 December 2005 on the Northern Ireland civil service. [61613]

Angela E. Smith: I am sorry for the delay in replying. This was due to a clerical error.

The information requested is set out in the following tables.
Table 1: NICS non-industrial at grade 6/7, deputy principal (DP) and staff officer (SO) grade levels by gender at 1 January 2006

Grade level Male Female Total

Grade 6/7 1,039 494 1,533

DP 1,510 830 2,340

SO 2,031 1,313 3,344

Table 2: NICS non-industrial at grade 6/7, DP and SO grade levels by community background at 1 January 2006

Grade level Protestant Catholic Total

Grade 6/7 855 557 1,412

DP 1,352 914 2,266

SO 1,885 1,359 3,244

Note:
Totals do not match because Table 2 does not include staff whose community background is not determined.

Grade level	Male	Female	Total
Grade 6/7	1,039	494	1,533
DP	1,510	830	2,340
SO	2,031	1,313	3,344

Grade level	Protestant	Catholic	Total
Grade 6/7	855	557	1,412
DP	1,352	914	2,266
SO	1,885	1,359	3,244

East-West Relations

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on improving East-West relations between the peoples of the United Kingdom, Irish Republic, Channel Islands and Isle of Man since 14 October 2002. [61618]

Angela E. Smith: Since 14 October 2002 Northern Ireland has continued to develop and improve East-West relations by contributing fully to the work of the British Irish Council. This has resulted in valuable co-operation and sharing of information between the BIC member administrations across each of the sectoral areas: the misuse of drugs, the environment, social inclusion, telemedicine, tourism, transport, the knowledge economy and minority languages.

29 Mar 2006 : Column 1043W

Education (Statementing)

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were statemented in each Education and Library Board area in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years. [61622]

Angela E. Smith: The numbers of statemented children in schools in each of the last three years were as follows:

Education and Library Board area 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06

Belfast 1,721 1,673 1,640

Western 1,796 1,915 2,002

North Eastern 2,109 2,256 2,360

South Eastern 3,034 3,204 3,281

Southern 2,325 2,474 2,671

Total 10,985 11,522 11,954

Education and Library Board area	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
Belfast	1,721	1,673	1,640
Western	1,796	1,915	2,002
North Eastern	2,109	2,256	2,360
South Eastern	3,034	3,204	3,281
Southern	2,325	2,474	2,671
Total	10,985	11,522	11,954

GP Provision (Millisle)

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the general practice provision is in Millisle. [62108]

29 Mar 2006 : Column 1044W

Mr. Woodward: A Donaghadee based practice provides a branch surgery in Millisle every Thursday morning. Residents of Millisle can register with nearby GP practices located in Donaghadee and Ballywalter.

Hip Replacements

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time a person requiring a hip replacement waited (a) from referral by GP for an initial consultation and (b) from referral by consultant following out-patient assessment until the procedure was performed in each health board in the latest period for which figures are available. [62093]

Mr. Woodward: Waiting list information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) length of time waiting. It is however possible to identify the median or mid-point waiting time band.

The median waiting time bands for patients waiting for their first out-patient appointment with a consultant following referral (including GP referral) to the trauma and orthopaedics (T and O) specialty (including those requiring hip replacements) at 31 December 2005 is shown in the following table. Included in the table are the median waiting time bands for patients waiting for a hip replacement operation following referral by consultant at 31 December 2005. Information is broken down by health board of residence.

Median waiting time band at 31 December 2005

Health board of residence (a) Patients waiting for an initial consultation in the T and O specialty following referral (months) (b) Patients waiting for a hip replacement operation following consultant referral (months)

Eastern 12–14 Less than 6

Northern 6–8 Less than 6

Southern 6–8 Less than 6

Western 3–5 Less than 6

Source:
Departmental Information Return CHS Parts 1 and 2 (Part (a)) and Altnagelvin Group and Green Park Healthcare Trusts (Part (b)).

	Median waiting time band at 31 December 2005
Health board of residence	(a) Patients waiting for an initial consultation in the T and O specialty following referral (months)	(b) Patients waiting for a hip replacement operation following consultant referral (months)
Eastern	12–14	Less than 6
Northern	6–8	Less than 6
Southern	6–8	Less than 6
Western	3–5	Less than 6

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which hospitals are undertaking hip replacement procedures in Northern Ireland. [62094]

Mr. Woodward: Currently, Musgrave Park hospital and Altnagelvin Area hospital are the only hospitals in Northern Ireland that routinely admit elective (planned) patients for hip replacement surgery. Some emergency hip replacement operations are undertaken at the Royal Victoria and Ulster hospital hospitals and, in a small number of cases, at the Causeway, Whiteabbey, Mid Ulster, Craigavon Area, Daisy Hill and Erne hospitals.

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State forNorthern Ireland how many hip replacement operations were completed in each of the last five years in each (a) hospital and (b) health board in Northern Ireland. [62095]

Mr. Woodward: The information requested is as follows.

(a) The following table shows the number of admissions ¹ to hospitals in Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years, where a hip replacement was carried out as the primary procedure.

Hospital 2004–05 2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01

Musgrave Park 1,314 1,059 1,124 1,058 1,151

Ulster 128 171 106 156 170

RVH 469 520 485 438 434

Lagan Valley <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Coleraine <5 <5 <5 <5 21

Causeway <5 12 25 26 <5

Whiteabbey <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Mid Ulster <5 5 <5 5 6

Antrim <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Craigavon Area 11 <5 <5 <5 <5

Daisy Hill <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

Altnagelvin 453 395 346 284 260

Erne <5 <5 <5 <5 <5

29 Mar 2006 : Column 1045W

Hospital	2004–05	2003–04	2002–03	2001–02	2000–01
Musgrave Park	1,314	1,059	1,124	1,058	1,151
Ulster	128	171	106	156	170
RVH	469	520	485	438	434
Lagan Valley	<5	<5	<5	<5	<5
Coleraine	<5	<5	<5	<5	21
Causeway	<5	12	25	26	<5
Whiteabbey	<5	<5	<5	<5	<5
Mid Ulster	<5	5	<5	5	6
Antrim	<5	<5	<5	<5	<5
Craigavon Area	11	<5	<5	<5	<5
Daisy Hill	<5	<5	<5	<5	<5
Altnagelvin	453	395	346	284	260
Erne	<5	<5	<5	<5	<5

(b) The following table shows the number of admissions ¹ to hospitals in each Health Board in Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years, where a

29 Mar 2006 : Column 1046W

hip replacement was carried out as the primary procedure.

Health Board⁽⁶⁾ 2004–05 2003–04 2002–03 2001–02 2000–01

Eastern 1,911 1,750 1,715 1,652 1,755

Northern 0 17 25 31 27

Southern 11 <5 <5 <5 <5

Western 453 395 346 284 260

⁽⁵⁾ Discharges and deaths are used as an approximation to admissions. It is possible that any individual could be admitted to hospital more than once in any year and will thus be counted more than once as an admission.
⁽⁶⁾ Health Board refers to the Health Board of the Trust providing the treatment.
Cell sizes less than five have been masked to minimize confidentiality risks.
Source:
Hospital Inpatient System

Health Board⁽⁶⁾	2004–05	2003–04	2002–03	2001–02	2000–01
Eastern	1,911	1,750	1,715	1,652	1,755
Northern	0	17	25	31	27
Southern	11	<5	<5	<5	<5
Western	453	395	346	284	260

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many patients are waiting for hip replacements in Northern Ireland in each (a) health board and (b) hospital in Northern Ireland, broken down by sex. [62096]

Mr. Woodward: The number of patients waiting for a hip replacement by health board of residence for Altnagelvin and Musgrave Park hospitals at 31 December 2005 is shown in the following table:

Number waiting for hip replacement at 31 December 2005

Health board of residence Altnagelvin hospital Musgrave Park hospital

Eastern 0 446

Northern 57 272

Southern 5 184

Western 188 58

Northern Ireland 250 960

Note:
As figures were provided in aggregate form, it was not possible to break down by gender.
Source:
Altnagelvin Group and Green Park Healthcare HSS Trusts.

	Number waiting for hip replacement at 31 December 2005
Health board of residence	Altnagelvin hospital	Musgrave Park hospital
Eastern	0	446
Northern	57	272
Southern	5	184
Western	188	58
Northern Ireland	250	960

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time for (i) initial orthopaedic outpatient assessment and (ii) hip replacement was in each health trust in the Province in the last period for which figures are available. [62105]

Mr. Woodward: Waiting list information is collected by time band. It is therefore not possible to calculate the arithmetic mean (average) and longest time waiting. It is however possible to identify the median or mid point and longest waiting time band.

The median and longest waiting time band along with the number of patients in the longest time band for (i) initial out-patient assessment in the Trauma and Orthopaedic (T&O) specialty and (ii) hip replacement, for each applicable Health Trust for those patients waiting at 31 December 2005 is shown in the following table.

(i) Initial out-patient T&O
assessment at 31 December 2005
(ii) Hip replacement at 31 December 2005

HSS Trust Median waiting time band
Longest waiting time band Median waiting time band
Longest waiting time band

Green Park 6–8 months 10.1 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months 3–5 months 1.7 per cent. of patients waiting 12–14 months

Altnagelvin 3–5 months 0.7 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months Less than 6 months 7.6 per cent. of patients waiting 12–17 months

Royal Group 15–17 months 30.9 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months n/a n/a

Ulster Community and Hospitals 12–14 months 22.6 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months n/a n/a

Down Lisburn 0–2 months 12.2 per cent. of patients waiting 3–5 months n/a n/a

Mater 6–8 months 0.5 per cent. of patients waiting 21–23 months n/a n/a

Sources:
Departmental Information Return CH3 Parts 1 and 2 (part i) and Altnagelvin Group and Green Park Healthcare HSS Trusts (part ii)

	(i) Initial out-patient T&O assessment at 31 December 2005	(ii) Hip replacement at 31 December 2005
HSS Trust	Median waiting time band	Longest waiting time band	Median waiting time band	Longest waiting time band
Green Park	6–8 months	10.1 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months	3–5 months	1.7 per cent. of patients waiting 12–14 months
Altnagelvin	3–5 months	0.7 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months	Less than 6 months	7.6 per cent. of patients waiting 12–17 months
Royal Group	15–17 months	30.9 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months	n/a	n/a
Ulster Community and Hospitals	12–14 months	22.6 per cent. of patients waiting 24 + months	n/a	n/a
Down Lisburn	0–2 months	12.2 per cent. of patients waiting 3–5 months	n/a	n/a
Mater	6–8 months	0.5 per cent. of patients waiting 21–23 months	n/a	n/a

Next Section

Index

Home Page