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17 May 2006 : Column 1117W—continued

Population Statistics

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account primary care trusts funding formulae take of the proportion of over 25-year olds in a local population. [68394]

Andy Burnham: The weighted capitation formula, which informs revenue allocations to primary care trusts, includes adjustments for age related need to reflect that demand for healthcare varies according to the age structure of the local population.

Each component of the formula has its own age weights which are shown in the tables.

Table 1: Hospital and community health service age weights
Age band Weighting (£)

0-4

542

5-14

269

15-44

526

45-64

655

65-74

1,245

75-84

1,976

85+

2,799


17 May 2006 : Column 1118W

Table 2: Prescribing age-sex weights
Age band Male Female

0-4

1

0.8

5-14

1.4

1.2

15-24

1.7

2.1

25-34

2

2.4

35-44

2.8

3.2

45-54

4.4

5.4

55-64

7.6

7.2

65-74

10.1

9.6

75+

11.8

10.6


Table 3: Primary medical services age-sex weights (expressed as the ratio to males aged five to 14)
Age band Male Female

0-4

3.97

3.64

5-14

1.00

1.04

15-44

1.02

2.20

45-64

2.16

3.37

65-74

4.23

4.95

75-84

6.01

6.95

85+

7.22

8.85


Premature Babies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many babies have been born prematurely in each of the last five years; and what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into links between premature birth and (i) areas of deprivation and (ii) environment. [69347]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The available information about length of gestation at delivery is published annually in table 21 of the statistical bulletin NHS Maternity Statistics: England. Copies of the bulletins, the latest of which relates to 2003-04, are available in the Library and also on the Department's website at

The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Innovation. The MRC supports a large portfolio of reproductive tract research and underpinning reproductive medicine and paediatric research.

The Department funds research to support policy and to provide the evidence needed to underpin quality improvement and service development in the national health service. The policy research programme in particular supports the national perinatal epidemiology unit. Much of the unit's work on the compromised foetus and baby focuses on or is linked to preterm birth.

Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is currently devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects including a number concerned with premature birth are available on the national research register at


17 May 2006 : Column 1119W

Self-harm

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children have been treated in hospital for self-harm in each of the last five years; [69342]

(2) how many children self-harmed in each of the last five years; [69378]

(3) how many children were admitted to hospital following incidents of self-harm in each of the last five years. [69379]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: In 2002, a survey by the Office for National Statistics of 12,000 five to 15-year-olds has found that 1.3 per cent. had tried to harm themselves. The available information on children admitted and treated in hospital is shown in the table.

Total finished admission episodes and total patients for under-18s admitted to hospital due to deliberate self-harm in the past five years in NHS hospitals England, financial years 2000-01 to 2004-05:

Children admitted by data year
Data year Total episodes Total patients

2004-05

11,237

9,804

2003-04

11,189

9,834

2002-03

10,189

8,762

2001-02

10,005

8,678

2000-01

9,469

8,188


Specialised Commissioning

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills about the review of specialised commissioning. [69309]

Andy Burnham: The review of commissioning arrangements for specialised services is an independent review commissioned by Health Ministers and will be considered appropriately when the report is received.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which interested parties will be consulted as part of her Department’s review of specialised commissioning; and over what time period the review will take place. [69311]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The review of commissioning arrangements for specialised services received 144 written submissions. A list of the written submissions has been placed in the Library. Additionally, the review ran an accelerated policy-making day with over 80 attendees and attended workshops with groups such as the NHS Confederation, the National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group and the Specialised Healthcare Alliance. Meetings were also held with officials from various bodies, for example specialised commissioning groups, Monitor (the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts), the Audit Commission and the Healthcare Commission. The review report will be submitted to Ministers shortly.


17 May 2006 : Column 1120W

Strategic Health Authorities

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff are employed by each strategic health authority; and at what cost in 2005-06. [69823]

Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested is shown in table one. This relates to the current 28 strategic health authorities (SHAs) that from 1 July 2006 will be reduced to 10 (as set out in written ministerial statement on 16 May 2006).

Table 1: National health service hospital and community health services: NHS staff by SHA and by main staff groups in England as at 30 September 2005
Headcount
All NHS staff

England

4,438

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA

133

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA

85

Essex SHA

116

North West London SHA

149

North Central London SHA

171

North East London SHA

155

South East London SHA

174

South West London SHA

105

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA

140

County Durham and Tees Valley SHA

103

North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire SHA

133

West Yorkshire SHA

101

Cumbria and Lancashire SHA

156

Greater Manchester SHA

295

Cheshire and Merseyside SHA

239

Thames Valley SHA

156

Hampshire and Isle of Wight SHA

222

Kent and Medway SHA

102

Surrey and Sussex SHA

141

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA

164

South West Peninsula SHA

166

Dorset and Somerset SHA

84

South Yorkshire SHA

293

Trent SHA

139

Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland SHA

214

Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA

110

Birmingham and The Black Country SHA

244

West Midlands South SHA

148

Source:
The Information Centre for health and social care, medical and dental workforce census
The Information Centre for health and social care, non-medical workforce census

The total staff costs for permanent staff at the SHAs for 2004-05 are shown in table two. Source for the data is the 2004-05 audited summarisation forms for the SHAs. 2005-06 data will be available in the autumn.


17 May 2006 : Column 1121W
Table 2
SHA name Staff costs (£000)

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA

5,665

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire SHA

4,709

Essex Strategic HA

5,455

North West London Strategic HA

6,542

North Central London Strategic HA

6,580

North East London Strategic HA

7,695

South East London Strategic HA

7,555

South West London Strategic HA

6,020

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic HA

4,827

County Durham and Tees Valley SHA

2,938

North and East Yorkshire and N Lines SHA

3,687

West Yorkshire Strategic HA

6,286

Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic HA

4,982

Greater Manchester Strategic HA

12,423

Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic HA

6,646

Thames Valley Strategic HA

8,719

Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Strategic HA

7,548

Kent and Medway Strategic HA

4,456

Surrey and Sussex Strategic HA

5,899

Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA

6,477

South West Peninsula Strategic HA

4,940

Dorset and Somerset Strategic HA

3,642

South Yorkshire Strategic HA

15,580

Trent Strategic HA

3,592

Leics, Northants and Rutland SHA

2,909

Shropshire and Staffordshire SHA

4,742

Birmingham and The Black Country SHA

12,983

West Midlands South Strategic HA

4,788

England total

178,285



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