| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
4 Sep 2006 : Column 2066W—continued
Care Homes
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures have been taken since October 2005 to ensure that free, fresh, chilled drinking water is available to all care home residents throughout the day. [88966]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Care Homes Regulations state that homes must provide, in adequate quantities, suitable, wholesome and nutritious food which is varied and properly prepared and available at such time as may reasonably be required by service users. Food, in the regulations, includes drink.
The review of the national minimum standards for care homes, which the Commission for Social Care Inspection must take into account when inspecting care homes, is ongoing and will be subject to public consultation in due course. The issue of availability of drinking water to residents is being considered as part of the review.
As part of the “Heatwave Plan for England 2006”, the Department has issued “Supporting vulnerable people before and during a heatwave—Advice for care home managers and staff”. This is a fact-sheet,
containing advice on preparation for and dealing with the effects of a heat wave on care home residents. It includes guidance on identifying those most at risk, monitoring residents’ fluid intake, particularly if they are unable to drink unaided, and ensuring that water and ice are widely available.
Cataract Operations
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cataract operations were carried out in (a) each London strategic health authority and (b) each London primary care trust in each of the last three years. [87721]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The table shows the latest data available for total numbers of cataract operations by London primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) for the years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05.
| Total procedures | |
Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many patients in England received a course of (a) chemotherapy and (b) radiotherapy during each of the last five years; [89072]
(2) how many out-patient visits there were for (a) radiotherapy and (b) chemotherapy was in the latest year for which figures are available. [89073]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not currently collected centrally. However, we are in the process of developing a radiotherapy episodes statistics system which should be able to provide the requested information on radiotherapy in the future. Work is also under way as part of the national programme for information technology to introduce hospital electronic prescribing, ePrescribing. This will help to provide accurate information on chemotherapy usage.
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients travelling for outpatient radiotherapy treatment did so (a) fewer than 10 times, (b) between 10 and 20 times, (c) between 21 and 30 times, (d) between 31 and 40 times, (e) between 41 and 50 times, (f) between 51 and 60 times and (g) over 60 times in the last year for which figures are available. [89075]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Radiotherapy treatment is often fractionated, i.e. given over a number of days. This allows large doses of radiation to be given while sparing normal tissue too many side effects. Generally, radical treatments, with the aim of curing a patient, are given in more treatment fractions than palliative treatment, for symptom control.
The fractions, that is the number of visits for treatment, that patients should be offered is a matter for the clinical judgment. The prescription will depend on the type of cancer and the intention of the treatment.
The Department does not have reliable information to answer this question at the present time. However, we are in the process of developing a radiotherapy episodes statistics system which should be able to provide the information in the future.
Child Deaths
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what public inquiries have taken place into the deaths of children in (a) health and (b) social services establishments in the past 30 years. [86230]
Andy Burnham: The Department has conducted two public inquiries into the deaths of children in the last 30 years (1976 to 2006). The only one that relates to deaths of children in a health establishment is the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) inquiry, established in June 1998 and reported in July 2001.
The BRI public inquiry followed a General Medical Council investigation into the conduct of the two surgeons and the chief executive of the trust. The inquiry was established in response to major public concern about the paediatric cardiac service at the BRI. The inquiry was an opportunity to learn lessons more widely for the national health service as a whole.
The Victoria Climbié inquiry (April 2001 to January 2003) was also a public inquiry into the death of a child, but her death was not due to treatment received in a health establishment.
Victoria Climbié died on 25 February 2000 in the intensive care unit at St. Mary’s hospital Paddington,
as a result of months of appalling ill-treatment at the hands of two individuals (Marie-Therese Kouao and Carl John Manning) who were supposed to be caring for her. The purpose of the inquiry was:
to establish the circumstances leading to and surrounding the death of Victoria Climbié;
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |