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24 July 2006 : Column 1100W—continued
Genito-Urinary Medicine
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 264W, on genito-urinary medicine (GUM), what percentage of attenders at genito-urinary medicine clinics were recorded as not given an appointment within two weeks in the (a) February 2006 and (b) May 2006 audit of GUM clinic waiting times by the Health Protection Agency. [84674]
Caroline Flint: Figures for the February 2006 audit showed that 18 per cent. of attendees at genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics were not seen within two weeks since first contacting the clinic. However, some of these patients were offered an earlier appointment but could not attend.
Figures for the May 2006 audit showed that 15 per cent. of attendees at GUM clinics were not seen within two weeks since first contacting the clinic. However, some of these patients were offered an earlier appointment but could not attend.
The May 2006 summary data on the percentage of patients seen within 48 hours can be found in the GUM Clinic Waiting Times Reports May 2005 to May 2006, copies of which are available in the Library. Copies of the document are freely available at the following website.
www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hiv_and_st/epidemiology/wtimes.htm
Overall, the number of attendees at GUM clinics seen within 48 hours in England increased from 51 per cent. in February 2006 to 54 per cent. in May 2006 and a further 4 per cent.
Halal
Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will promote the adoption of a Halal symbol to enable Muslim consumers easily to identify Halal products. [85576]
Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency works closely with the Muslim community through its Muslim organisations working group and its members are currently working on a voluntary halal code of practice to assist with producing a standardised halal certification system. Once this has been produced, it is hoped that it will be widely adopted by the Muslim community, allowing for food to be labelled or otherwise marked as halal in accordance with that code of practice and providing clearer advice for consumers.
Health Care Costs
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of expenditure on (a) primary care and (b) hospital care was in Islington in each of the past five years; and what the estimated level is in 2006-07. [84946]
Andy Burnham: The table shows data for Islington primary care trust (PCT) for the years that it has been in existence, 2002-03 to 2004-05, which is the latest year for which information is available. Prior to 2002-03, it is not possible to identify expenditure in Islington as it was not a separate reporting identity.
Data given relates expenditure by the PCT on purchase of primary healthcare and the purchase of secondary healthcare in each case. It is not possible to identify hospital care alone as this may include, for example, care in the community.
The allocations to Islington PCT for 2006-07 and 2007-08 were £336.9 million and £363.9 million respectively.
| Expenditure by Islington PCT | ||
| £000 | ||
| Purchase of primary healthcare | Purchase of secondary healthcare | |
| Source: Audited summarisation schedules of Islington PCT. | ||
Health Statistics (London)
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed with (a) diabetes and (b) Alzheimer’s syndrome in each London borough in each year since 1997. [87495]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Data on the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes are not held in the format requested. However, the number of patients with diabetes by London primary care trust (PCT) for March 2005 and March 2006 which are the latest figures available is shown in the following table.
Data on the number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s syndrome are not collected centrally.
| Number of patients with diabetes as identified on practice registers | ||||
| London | March 2006 | March 2005 | ||
Health Worker Recruitment Code of Practice
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations she has received from NHS employers regarding the effectiveness of the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Workers; [81789]
(2) what advice has been given by her Department to NHS employers regarding the implementation of the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Workers; [81790]
(3) what procedures are in place for the reporting to her Department of breaches of the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Workers; [81791]
(4) how many recruitment agencies have signed the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Workers; [81792]
(5) pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2005, Official Report, column 1062W, on Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, how many recruitment agencies have breached the Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Workers since November 2005. [81801]
Ms Rosie Winterton: NHS Employers is an independent body with responsibility for providing national health service employers with guidance about employment matters, this includes advice and support on the implementation of the code of practice.
NHS Employers also monitor breaches of the code and provide the Department with monthly returns which includes details of the following:
the number of agencies on the code of practice list;
ongoing investigations of alleged breaches of the code; and
removal of agencies from the list.
There are currently 279 commercial recruitment agencies on the code of practice list. One agency has been removed from the list since November 2005.
The Department has received no representations from NHS Employers regarding the effectiveness of the code of practice.
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