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18 July 2007 : Column 463W—continued
NHS Treatment Centres: Finance
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which treatment centres reached financial close in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007 so far; which are expected to reach financial close in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008 and (iii) 2009; and what the actual or expected capital cost and completion date is of each scheme. [148932]
Mr. Bradshaw: Four phase 2 diagnostic independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) schemes reached financial close in December 2006 (north-west, south-west, London and west midlands). Two phase 2 elective schemes have to date reached financial close in 2007—Cheshire and Merseyside in May 2007, and Northumberland, Tyne and Wear in June 2007.
Of those phase 2 schemes which have reached financial close, all contracts are for a five-year term except the Cheshire and Merseyside electives scheme, which is for a four-year term.
The following phase 2 schemes are moving through the procurement process and are expected to reach financial close by the end of 2007.
Avon Gloucestershire and Wiltshire;
Cumbria and Lancashire elective surgery;
London North;
Hampshire Isle of Wight;
Greater Manchester CATS (A);
Greater Manchester CATS (B);
Essex;
North East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire;
Cumbria and Lancashire CATS; and
Renal.
South East;
North East;
PET CT (North); and
PET CT (South).
Financial close dates are based on current planning assumptions and ongoing negotiations and therefore subject to change. On average, phase 2 schemes run to five-year contract terms.
Two further ISTC schemes, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge are expected to move forward through the procurement process to financial close through 2007-08.
No phase 2 ISTC schemes are currently expected to reach financial close in 2009.
As the procurement of phase 2 is ongoing, it is not possible for commercial reasons to provide information on expected costs relating to individual schemes, including any expected capital costs.
NHS Treatment Centres: Private Sector
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2007, Official Report, column 925W, on NHS treatment centres: private sector, when he expects to publish the Healthcare Commission’s full report on the quality of care in such centres. [147024]
Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 2 July 2007]: I understand the Healthcare Commission intends to publish its full report on the Quality of Care in independent sector treatment centres on the 19 July 2007.
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a list of the contracts that have been placed with independent sector treatment centres, broken down by NHS trust together with the annual quantum of treatments purchased and the annual contract cost. [149412]
Mr. Bradshaw: The following phase one independent sector treatment centre contracts are in place:
| Facility name | Lead primary care trust | Total activity |
| Notes: 1. The above excludes pathfinder contract and GSUP1 and GSUP2. 2. The total activity column includes all indicative activity volumes i.e. procedures, diagnostics and outpatients for the duration of the contract. These figures are subject to change and are based on estimates. | ||
Two phase two ISTC schemes have contracts awarded. The Cheshire and Merseyside scheme is contracted to deliver approximately 67,000 procedures and the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear scheme is
contracted to deliver approximately 83,300 procedures over the duration of the contracts. These figures are subject to change.
Contract values are not disclosed as they are considered commercially confidential. The Department is currently reviewing what information is provided on phase one contracts, however, no decision has yet been taken.
NHS Trusts: Infectious Diseases
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts employ a director of infection prevention and control. [148641]
Ann Keen: “The Health Act 2006 Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Health Care Associated Infections” which came into force on 1 October 2006 requires all national health service bodies to designate a Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC). The Healthcare Commission (HCC) will be monitoring compliance with the code of practice as part of the annual health check.
The data are not available in the form requested. However, the following table shows the number of DIPCs in position from HCCs 2005-06 assessment as at 31 March 2006.
| Total number of DIPCs in position | Total number of NHS establishments | |
NHS: Buildings
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set a long-term target to eliminate the NHS estate repair backlog by April 2011; and if he will make a statement. [148934]
Mr. Bradshaw: All national health service trusts are responsible for managing their assets to ensure that they are in good condition and safe for patients and staff. This includes managing investment to undertake any repairs that may be required to secure and maintain compliance with fire and health and safety requirements.
These investment decisions will be prioritised locally and will be based on risk assessment, reconfiguration planning, available resources and the introduction of new facilities to replace those that no longer meet local service needs.
As part of the overall objective to reduce the extent of the Department's central performance management of the NHS, trusts are responsible for satisfying the Healthcare Commission that care and treatment is provided from well designed and well maintained buildings.
NHS: Complaints
Norman Lamb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times he and his predecessor decided a reference from a local overview and scrutiny
committee should not go to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel in the last two years; and how many references from overview and scrutiny committees he and his predecessor received in that period. [148607]
Ann Keen: As of 10 July 2007, there were 23 referrals from overview and scrutiny committees to the Secretary of State for Health between 1 July 2005 and 10 July 2007. The Secretary of State has sought the advice of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel in relation to eight of the 23 referrals.
NHS: Consultants
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2007 to (Mr. Francois) the hon. Member for Rayleigh, Official Report, column 1313W, on NHS: consultants, what estimate was made of the cost of new consultants' contracts at the time of the 2002 comprehensive spending review settlement for his Department; and what his current estimate is of the cost of the contracts over the period of that review. [146948]
Ann Keen: We estimated during SR2002 that the costs of introducing the consultant contract would be an additional £565 million over the first three years.
The National Audit Office (NAO) report on the consultant contract, published in April 2007, included two sets of plausible methods for calculating the actual cost of the contract. The NAO estimated that the contract may have cost the national health service, over the first three years between £649 million and £765 million more than if consultants had remained on the old contract, compared to departmental funding of £715 million over that period.
NHS: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to reduce the number of attacks on (a) NHS and (b) social care staff who are working in the community. [148142]
Ann Keen: In April 2003, the national health service security management service (NHS SMS) was created and assumed responsibility for tackling violence against NHS staff. A comprehensive strategy detailing both preventative and re-active measures to reduce the number of attacks against NHS staff working in the community has been implemented and includes the creation of the role of a professionally trained and accredited local security management specialist (LSMS) for each health body.
The LSMS is responsible for the management of issues related to attacks against NHS staff supported by a national structure and guidance such as ‘Tackling Violence Against Staff 2007, Not Alone—a Guide For Lone Workers 2005’, and the ‘Non Physical Assault Explanatory Notes 2004’.
In April 2004, mandatory conflict resolution training for all NHS front line staff was introduced with the aim to equip staff with the skills to deal effectively with potentially violent situations.
The NHS SMS remit includes social care staff where they are employed directly by the NHS or deliver NHS services.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on strengthening criminal penalties for those who attack (a) NHS and (b) social care staff. [148143]
Ann Keen: In April 2003, the NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) was created and assumed responsibility for tackling violence against national health service staff. The NHS SMS remit includes social care staff where they are employed directly by the NHS or deliver NHS services.
The NHS SMS is currently working with the Home Office to introduce new powers to deal with nuisance and disturbance behaviour on NHS premises with a view to minimising the potential for attacks against NHS staff.
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