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26 Oct 2006 : Column 2102W—continued
NHS Training Budgets
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the strategic learning and research advisory committee last discussed NHS training budgets; and what advice the committee has given her about (a) NHS training needs and (b) the cost of meeting those needs in the immediate future. [95212]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The strategic learning and research advisory group (StLaR) last discussed training budgets at its meeting on 20 June 2006.
StLaR members recommended a monitoring regime in 2006-07 on the impact of allocations and subsequent local NHS decisions on higher education institutions. The outcome of this work, being undertaken by Universities UK/Council of Deans, will be discussed at the next meeting of StLaR in December 2006. More
detailed engagement of relevant bodies, including Universities UK, in workforce planning was also recommended.
StLaR provides advice via Permanent Secretaries of the Department and the Department for Education and Skills at a strategic level and therefore does not make specific recommendations on the detail of training numbers or projected costs.
TB
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have not implemented the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection; and if she will make a statement. [95556]
Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis (TB), and measures for its prevention and control, in March 2006. The Healthcare Commission, as part of its annual health check of NHS organisations, monitors the implementation of NICE guidelines. NHS trusts should take heed of the guideline when planning and procuring TB services to fit their local demography and incidence on TB in their area.
The Department of Health has been developing a toolkit to help the NHS to implement the key points of the Chief Medical Officer's action plan “Stopping Tuberculosis in England”, published in October 2004, through effective commissioning and delivery of services. The toolkit will recommend that TB services should always follow the NICE clinical guideline when diagnosing and treating patients with TB, including latent TB.
NICE
Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will review the remit and scope of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence investigations to ensure that they are able to assess adequately the wider benefits of treatments to society, across health and social care and to carers and their families. [95557]
Andy Burnham: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) already takes factors such as wider benefits to patients' families into account where it is appropriate to do so. For example, NICE’S economic modelling on its work for the appraisal of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease has included an assessment of the impact of benefits accruing to carers. NICE explicitly takes account of publicly funded personal social services costs in its appraisals.
Nurses
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average starting pay for a newly qualified nurse was in each of the last 30 years in real terms. [93947]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The available information is set out in the table.
| Starting pay | ||
| Cash( 1,2) | Real terms( 3) | |
| (1) Starting pay for a newly qualified nurse is normally the minimum of the grade applicable to basic grade qualified nurses. (2) The grades applicable to basic grade qualified nurses in the years set out in the table are as follows: 1977-78 to 1987-88—staff nurse 1988-89 to 2003-04—D grade 2004-05 to 2006-07—agenda for change band 5. Figures given are for the minimum of these grades in the year in question, including any staged increases. (3) Real terms in 2006-07 prices. (4) The starting pay given for 1995-96 is the rate for non-trust staff. (5) The starting pay given for 2004-05 is the minimum of the agenda for change band 5 scale at the effective date of implementation of agenda for change on 1 October 2004. | ||
Orthopaedic Treatment
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress she is making in discussions with orthopaedic hospitals on the tariff for specialist operations. [96612]
Andy Burnham: Departmental officials continue to work closely with the Specialist Orthopaedic Alliance, which is representative of the United Kingdom’s five specialist orthopaedic hospitals. The last meeting between the Department and the Alliance was on 17 October 2006.
Primary Care Trusts
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost is of the reorganisation of primary care trusts in Norfolk. [97148]
Andy Burnham: The costs of the changes that were announced on the 16 May will depend on a number of factors, including the location of new organisations being created, the number of people in the new organisations, and new pay ranges for very senior managers as well as changes in estate costs following reconfiguration.
These arrangements are currently being worked up and discussed with trade unions and staff. Until those discussions have been concluded and the detail of new arrangements agreed it is not possible to confirm or accurately forecast costs.
“Commissioning a patient-led national health service” is designed to deliver £250 million savings from administration costs through streamlining for reinvestment in frontline services. The savings are expected to be realised by the end of 2007 and then every year for reinvestment beginning in 2008-09.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the review by her Department of the private finance initiative scheme for Peterborough hospitals to be concluded; and if she will make a statement. [97186]
Andy Burnham: The Department announced on the 26 January that all trusts with private finance initiative schemes with an expected capital value of greater than £75 million would need to reconfirm their plans. These reviews ensure that all schemes properly take account of the current reforms to the national health service (NHS) such as choice, a movement of services into primary and community settings, the new financial regime as well long-term affordability, assumptions on efficiency gains and income growth. On 18 August, it was announced that six schemes had passed the review. The scheme at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one where further work is needed in order to address outstanding affordability and capacity issues. An announcement about the scheme will be made shortly.
Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the most common reason for (a) out-patient and (b) in-patient admission to the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath was in the most recent period for which figures are available. [95954]
Andy Burnham: The information requested is only available at trust level. The table below details the top 10 finished admission episodes by primary diagnosis for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals National Health Service Trust for 2004-05:
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what effect she expects the proposed changes to services offered by the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath to have on the NHS South East Coast Strategic Health Authority deficit. [95955]
Andy Burnham [holding answer 23 October 2006]: NHS South East Coast is working with local people, local government and other stakeholders to produce plans for modern healthcare services that are high quality, safe as well as being clinically and financially sustainable. A document entitled “Creating an NHS Fit for the Future” was published in February 2006 and this detailed first steps in developing the strategy.
The “Creating an NHS Fit for the Future” programme is being rolled out across Surrey and Sussex and Kent and Medway. In Surrey and Sussex it is concluding its discussion phase. If proposals emerge which recommend significant changes to the services provided, a full public consultation exercise will follow.
Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were admitted to the accident and emergency department of the Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath in each of the last three years. [95957]
Ms Rosie Winterton [holding answer 23 October 2006]: Information on attendances at and admissions via accident and emergency (A and E) departments is only collected centrally at trust level. The following table shows the number of attendances at, and admissions via, all types of A and E department for Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.
| Organisation | Number of admissions via A and E (all types) | Total A and E attendances (all types) | |
| Note: Admissions data include admissions via all types of A and E. Source: Department of Health dataset QMAE | |||
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