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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 whilst sparing normal tissue from 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, patients should be offered is a matter for the clinical judgement. 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 this 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;
to examine the services provided by the local authorities (social services), the health bodies and the police to Victoria Climbié, Marie-Therese Kouao and Carl John Manning; and
to reach conclusions as to the circumstances leading to Victoria’s death and to make recommendations to the Government on how such an event may be avoided in the future.
Child Health Interim Application
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the working of the child health interim application has been affected by problems with (a) computer processes and (b) manual supporting processes. [85636]
Caroline Flint: The child health interim application (CHIA) is itself a collection of computer and manual supporting processes. The CHIA system was implemented following the withdrawal of the previous Richs child health system. As a consequence of the migration there have been some validation and coding difficulties which are currently being addressed by Connecting for Health, the strategic health authority and the contractor (BT).
There are also some current issues with links required to other computer systems, which are also being addressed. Manual systems have been implemented to continue to provide some of the services that were available previously.
Child Obesity
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of the impact on obesity levels of children (a) watching television and (b) using computers and other game consoles; [86580]
(2) what assessment she has made of the impact of television advertising promoting sedentary activities on children’s obesity levels. [86581]
Caroline Flint: The Department has made no formal assessment of the impact that sedentary behaviour such as watching television or using computers or other game consoles has on obesity levels in children. However, a large scale cross-national body of survey-based research conducted on children and on teenagers is emerging, which generally shows a moderate correlation between the amount of television viewed and children’s diet or health.
Although there is no clear United Kingdom evidence that obese children are more likely to have low levels of physical activity compared to non-obese children, there is plenty of evidence showing that high levels of sedentary behaviour such as watching television or playing computer games is predictive of being obese and overweight.
The
correlation could be because watching television or playing computer
games does not expend any energy; in fact, it may even depress the
metabolic rate.
The correlation could also be owing to television and playing computer
games substituting physical exercise or because children watch
television while eating food and drinks that are high in fat and
sugar.
As part of its work on developing a healthy living campaign, the Department is currently looking into what correlations there may be between obesity and sedentary behaviour. It has not found any clear evidence of the impact on obesity of television or video gaming but has made an intuitive assessment of a possible correlation, which has been supported by stakeholder and expert groups as part of a focus area review.
Child Vaccinations
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the level of child vaccinations in London. [85634]
Caroline Flint: The latest annual estimate of childhood vaccines was published in the Statistical bulletin NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 2004-05. A copy has been placed in the Library and is also available on The Information Centre for health and social care's website at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/immunisaton05/04119650.pdf/file.
Some problems have been encountered recently in collecting data on childhood vaccinations in London. We are exploring how these problems can be rectified.
Quarterly data is published by the Health Protection Agency in CDR weekly and is available on their website at:
www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/vaccination/vac_cover.htm
A copy has been placed in the Library.
Choose and Book
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006, Official Report, column 321W, on choose and book, what information she collects from (a) primary care trusts, (b) acute trusts and (c) strategic health authorities on their allocation of budgets for choose and book. [85218]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: None.
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2006, Official Report, column 321W on Choose and Book, what assessment her Department has made of the likely financial impact of the Choose and Book system programme on local trusts and authorities. [82132]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Choose and Book will help commissioners and providers to manage resources efficiently by providing real-time information about demand in terms of referrals. The effect of this in a particular area depends on the response of managers and clinicians to the available information.
In terms
of implementation costs, primary care trusts (PCTs) are being
reimbursed for the short-term cost of upgrading existing general
practitioner practice systems so that they align with Choose and Book.
PCTs have also received centrally funded support to resolve technical
issues, and to pay for the necessary project management resource
required locally. Funding is also available for acute trusts to support
a technical upgrade to existing patient administration systems to make
them align with Choose and
Book.
Clinically Qualified Staff
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinically qualified staff are employed by the NHS in non-clinical roles. [88278]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.
Colonoscopy
Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the likely change in the number of colonoscopies carried out each year under the NHS following the adoption of the new national guidelines on colonoscopy use. [78422]
Andy Burnham: No estimate has been made centrally of likely changes to the number of colonoscopies carried out following publication of the British Society of Gastroenterology’s report ‘Care of Patients with Gastrointestinal Disorders in the United Kingdom: A Strategy for the future’. Copies have been placed in the Library.
The Department is, however, in the process of agreeing local delivery plans with strategic health authorities which, for the first time, will include the number of colonoscopies planned for the years 2006-07 and 2007-08.
Community Hospitals
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) letters and (b) other representations her Department has received on (i) Cranleigh Village Hospital and (ii) the future of Royal Surrey County Hospital. [87916]
Caroline Flint: A search of the Department’s correspondence database shows that there were approximately 38 completed cases on Cranleigh Village Hospital between September 2005 and to date. There were approximately 47 completed cases on Royal Surrey County Hospital between September 2005 and to date.
On 27 July 2005, my noble Friend, the Minister of State for NHS Reform (Lord Warner) had a meeting with a delegation to discuss Cranleigh Village Hospital. On 30 August 2005, my noble Friend wrote to Baroness Sharp of Guildford about Cranleigh Village Hospital, and on 26 April 2006, my noble Friend received a letter from Baroness Sharp of Guildford about this issue.
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she plans to take to ensure that community hospitals can provide a comprehensive service to people who have (a) multiple sclerosis and (b) other complex and fluctuating conditions. [85295]
Andy Burnham: Decision making on specific local healthcare provision, including services for people who have multiple sclerosis and other complex and fluctuating conditions, is a matter for primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in consultation with the local population.
However, the Department expects national health service organisations to adhere to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on multiple sclerosis care, published in November 2003, and the national service framework for long-term conditions, published in March 2005.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the number of community hospital beds likely to be needed in Gloucestershire over the next (a) five and (b) 10 years. [85426]
Andy Burnham: It is for primary care trust to assess and commission services to meet the needs of the populations that they serve.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her Oral Statement of 5 July 2006, Official Report, column 826W, on community hospitals, (1) how many community hospitals have (a) opened and (b) closed in the Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority area since 1997; and how many are being considered for closure; [85572]
(2) how many community hospitals in the Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority area she assesses as having Victorian workhouse facilities. [85573]
Andy Burnham: No community hospitals have been either opened or closed in the former Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority area since 1997. NHS West Midlands reports that only one community hospital in the area, Westcliffe hospital operated by North Stoke primary care trust, is assessed as having Victorian workhouse facilities.
Continuing Care
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 27 June 2006, Official Report, column 321W, on continuing care, if she will provide the information broken down by (a) strategic health authority and (b) primary care trust. [87699]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Chairman of the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 9 January, 10 April, 23 May and 6 June about the treatment of his constituents for sleep apnoea. [87933]
Caroline
Flint [holding answer 24 July 2006]: I have
referred this matter to the chief executive of the NHS West Midlands
Strategic Health Authority. I have
asked the chief executive to look into this matter and to reply directly
to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
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