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31 Jan 2008 : Column 636W—continued
Chlamydia: Screening
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to address the difference in numbers of men and numbers of women being screened for chlamydia. [182854]
Dawn Primarolo: Since the launch of the National Chlamydia Screening programme (NCSP) in 2003, it has been a requirement to screen both young men and women for chlamydia within the programme. This is one of the only national chlamydia screening programmes in the world to do so.
The number of screens in men has risen year on year. In 2006-07 the number of screens undertaken in men was 21.1 per cent.
It was recognised that more must be done to increase screening volumes in men and in November 2007, the NCSP launched a strategy ‘Men too’, to outline national commitments and local action to engage more men to accept chlamydia screening. The aims of the strategy are to:
raise awareness of the importance of screening men, both for their own sexual and reproductive health and to contribute to preventing reproductive morbidity in women;
engage national health service organisations locally to ensure equitable access to chlamydia screening for both men and women remains a priority; and
develop best practice in providing chlamydia screening for men.
A copy of the strategy has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
The NCSP have been working with various stakeholders, including the Men’s Health Forum, to implement commitments in this strategy. The programme of work, to be undertaken by November 2008, includes the development of a toolkit of resources to assist local NHS organisation with engaging men in screening.
Clostridium: Screening
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department’s screening programme for clostridium difficile on admission to hospital will begin; and what budgetary provision he has made for the programme in each financial year to 2010-11. [178031]
Ann Keen: We are introducing universal screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus for all elective patients by March 2009 and for all emergency patients as soon as possible over the next three years, supported by funding of £130 million per year by 2010-11. This will reduce the likelihood of a patient developing a clinical infection or passing it on to others in hospital who may be vulnerable.
We have considered whether universal screening of patients for Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile) is the best way forward for the national health service. However, the current clinical evidence does not suggest that universal screening would be clinically, or cost, effective as universal screening would not identify the majority of patients who might be carrying C. difficile bacteria, and patients without symptoms are not considered to present an increased risk of infecting others. This is why we are targeting high risk patients for C. difficile screening. All over 65s in hospital with diarrhoea already should be screened for C . difficile as set out in current guidance. This will ensure the infection is identified quickly and appropriate measures are taken to treat the patient and minimise infection of other patients.
The measures for tackling healthcare associated infections such as C. difficile are set out in Health Protection Agency guidance, the “Saving Lives” programme and “Clean, safe care” strategy. Additional investment of £270 million funding per year by 2010-11 has been identified in the comprehensive spending review to support infection control and cleanliness in the NHS.
We will keep the clinical evidence for further C. difficile screening under review and will act quickly in response to new and emerging evidence.
Dental Services
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dental surgeries in England closed permanently in each of the last 10 years. [180388]
Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the adult population saw an NHS dentist in each strategic health authority area in the 24 month period preceding 31 March 2001. [180420]
Ann Keen: Unique patients seen in a 24-month period only replaced registration as a measure of access to national health service dentistry in April 2006. Information cannot therefore be provided in the form requested.
Information on the number of adult patients registered with an NHS dentist as a proportion of the adult population at strategic health authority (SHA) level in England as at 31 March 1997 to 2000 are available in the following table. Each registration during this period lasted 15 months.
The proportion of adult patients registered with an NHS dentist is available as at 31 March 2001 to 2006 in the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report, England: 31 March 2006.
This report is available in the Library and is available at:
Dental Services: Colchester
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) Colchester constituency and (b) Essex are awaiting registration with an NHS dentist; and if he will make a statement. [180367]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally. Further information may be available from the chair of North East Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT), which contains Colchester constituency, and Mid Essex PCT, South East Essex PCT, South West Essex PCT and West Essex PCT, which together with North East Essex PCT commission dental services to the county of Essex.
Dental Services: Staffordshire
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Staffordshire are awaiting registration with an NHS dentist; and if he will make a statement. [179494]
Ann Keen: The information is not held centrally by the Department.
Increasing the number of patients seen within national health service dental services is now a formal priority in the NHS Operating Framework for 2008-09 and we have supported this with a very substantial 11 per cent. uplift in overall allocations to primary care trusts from 1 April 2008.
Dentistry: Manpower
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 January 2008, Official Report, column 1004W, on dentistry: manpower, how many orthodontists were available to the acute health sector in England in each year from 2001. [181273]
Ann Keen: The information requested is set out in the following table:
| Number of orthodontists (and orthodontic consultants) working in hospital and community health services, England—at 30 September each year | ||
| Number (headcount) | ||
| Orthodontists | Of which: Consultant | |
| Source: The Information Centre for health and social care | ||
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