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22 Mar 2007 : Column 1126W—continued
Alcoholic Drinks: Lancashire
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many alcohol-related hospital admittances there were in Lancashire in each of the last 10 years. [125173]
Caroline Flint: The information requested is shown in the table.
| All diagnosis count of finished in year admission episodes for alcohol-related diagnoses for patients with a PCT of residence in Lancashire for 1996-1997 to 2005-06—diagnosis codes F10 Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Use of Alcohol; K70 Alcoholic Liver Disease; T51 Toxic Effect of Alcohol—NHS hospitals, England | ||||||||||
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | |
| Notes: 1. Finished in-year admissions A finished in-year admission is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider, excluding admissions beginning before 1 April at the start of the data-year. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. PCT and SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 2002-03 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment are poor in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of GP practice and SHA of GP practice in 1997-98 and 1998-99 are also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data. 2. All diagnoses count of episodes These figures represent a count of all finished in year admission episodes where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (7 prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in a HES record. 3. Data quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 4. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care | ||||||||||
Cervical Cancer: Vaccination
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many representations she has received on the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil; whether her Department has conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of new vaccines to tackle HPV; and if she will make a statement. [127518]
Caroline Flint: There have been about 25 representations received regarding the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is in the process of thoroughly examining the vaccine safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness evidence concerning HPV vaccines. The work is being taken forward by a sub-group of JCVI, with further work ongoing to evaluate whether the vaccine is considered to be a cost-effective prevention of cervical cancer; and the impact that HPV vaccine may have on genital warts.
The sub group’s advice will be reported to the main JCVI committee for further discussion.
No decisions will be taken on introducing these vaccines into the immunisation programme until JCVI has presented its advice to Ministers for their consideration.
Colorectal Cancer: Screening
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many faecal occult blood testing kit samples have been (a) returned to and (b) analysed by each of the five national bowel cancer screening programme hubs; [129128]
(2) how many people in England have been invited to participate in the national bowel cancer screening programme; and how many have been sent a home testing kit by each of the five national bowel cancer screening programme hubs; [129129]
(3) how many local bowel cancer screening centres have begun providing endoscopy services for patients who have had a positive faecal occult blood test result; [129130]
(4) how many bowel cancers have been diagnosed through the national bowel cancer screening programme; [129131]
(5) when each of the five national bowel cancer screening programme hubs began operation; [129132]
Ms Rosie Winterton: As at 16 March 2007, the national health service bowel cancer screening programme had sent out 128,993 invitations for screening. Invitations are sent out one week before the testing kits, and people can opt out of receiving a testing kit if they wish.
110,608 faecal occult blood testing kits had been sent out, and 57,280 had been returned and analysed at the five programme hubs. 1,003 positive results had been recorded, and 92 cancers diagnosed. 292 patients were diagnosed with polyps which may have developed into cancer over time. Treating these polyps has reduced their risk of bowel cancer.
The five programme hubs which began operations are shown in the table.
| Programme hub | Date began operations |
15 local screening centres are now operational and are shown in the table.
| Local screening centre | Date began operations |
It is hoped a sixteenth centre will open before the end of March 2007. This will be confirmed if and when quality and capacity criteria have been satisfied.
Departments: Complaints
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff worked in dedicated complaints units in her Department and its executive agencies in (a) 1997-98, (b) 2001-02 and (c) 2005-06; and how many have there have been in 2006-07 to date. [121676]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Department established responsibility for the management of complaints about the Department within its customer service centre in September 2004.
Between 1997-98 and 2001-02 there have been no dedicated staff and complaints have been dealt with at local level.
Since February 2005, there have been two members of staff spending some of their time working on complaints.
Complaints about public consultation exercises and Freedom of Information reviews are carried out by specialist units within the Department.
The NHS Purchasing and Supply Unit (PASA) has no dedicated staff or units for complaints and complaints are handled by its corporate affairs unit.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had no staff working in dedicated complaints units in the Department and executive agencies in 1997-98, 2001-02, 2005-06 and 2006-07 to date.
However the MHRA has had an independent complaints adviser for the whole period to date. This person has complaints referred to them where they cannot be resolved internally to the complainant’s satisfaction.
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