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3 Apr 2008 : Column 1298W—continued
Drugs: Rehabilitation
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much PricewaterhouseCoopers was paid for its review of prison-based drug treatment funding; and what competitive tendering process was undertaken to choose a private sector provider for this report. [198339]
Dawn Primarolo: The tender for the review of prison-based drug treatment funding was let to PricewaterhouseCoopers at a cost of £317,510. Additional funding for a value of £9,000 was also provided due to a change in the requirements.
The tendering process took place under the Department’s consultancy services framework, which allows limited competition between 43 registered suppliers, chosen following a rigorous procurement process. Pre-agreed terms and conditions with these suppliers offer the Department sound contractual safeguards.
Three companies tendered for the review. In total, there are 13 companies listed under the consultancy services framework’s sub-category of health consultancy. These were all invited to tender.
Epilepsy: Death
Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has monitored progress on the commitments to improve the investigation of epilepsy-related death and the support to bereaved families made by the Department of Health’s Action Plan 2003 in response to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical audit of epilepsy-related deaths in 2002; [198762]
(2) whether his Department has monitored epilepsy-related death since the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence national clinical audit of epilepsy-related death 2002. [198764]
Ann Keen: The Department has not monitored epilepsy-related deaths since the publication if the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical audit.
The Department has not monitored progress on the commitments to improve the investigation of epilepsy-related death and the support provided to bereaved families made in the Department’s Action Plan 2003.
In 2006, the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death (NCEPOD) reported on the conduct of coronial autopsy and made specific recommendations on deaths suspected to be related to epilepsy. They also published a self assessment checklist for trusts allowing them to check their progress in adopting NCEPOD’s recommendations.
Eyesight: Testing
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on the desirable frequency of eye examinations for (a) children under 16 years old and (b) adults. [197966]
Ann Keen: The Department issued guidance on the frequency of general ophthalmic services sight tests in 2002. The guidance contains the following minimum intervals for sight tests:
The General Ophthalmic Services Regulations require optometrists or ophthalmic medical practitioners (practitioners) to satisfy themselves that a sight test is clinically necessary. Therefore, the intervals given are not to be read as applying to all patients in a category.
A practitioner may carry out a sight test at a shorter interval than those listed, either at the practitioner’s initiative for a clinical reason, or because the patient presents him/herself to the practitioner with symptoms or concerns which might be related to an eye condition.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many free eye examinations were carried out by the NHS for (a) children under 16 years old and (b) adults entitled to free eye examinations in each of the last five years. [197967]
Ann Keen: The latest numbers relating to General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) sight tests paid for by the national health service, by patient eligibility, are available in table 3 of the “General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales: April 2007-September 2007” report. This information is for the first six months of 2007-08.
This report, published on 26 March 2007, has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
The number of GOS sight tests paid for by the NHS, by patient eligibility, in England and in Wales, for the year ending 31 March 2007 are available in table B4 of “General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales, Year Ending 31 March 2007” report.
This report, published 31 July 2007, is available in the Library and is also available at:
The number of GOS sight tests paid for by the NHS, by patient eligibility, in England and in Wales, for the year ending 31 March 2006 are available in table A4 of the “General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England and Wales, Year Ending 31 March 2006” report.
This report, published 27 July 2006, is available in the Library and is also available at:
In the above reports, information is provided for children aged 0 to 15 and by various adult eligibility groups.
The number of GOS sight tests paid for by the NHS, by patient eligibility, in England, Wales, Scotland and Great Britain for the years ending 31 March 1996 to 2005 are available in table 3 of “General Ophthalmic Services: Consultation tables for England, Wales and Scotland, 2004-05”. Information is available for children (aged 15 and under), students in full-time education (aged 16 to 18) and other eligible adults.
This report, published 30 November 2005, has been placed in the Library and is also available at:
All reports have been published by the Information Centre for health and social care.
General Practitioners
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the average distance between a person’s home and nearest GP surgery in different parts of the country. [198241]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information regarding the average distance between a person’s home and nearest general practitioner surgery centrally.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of general practitioner practices there will be in England in 2010-11. [198260]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department has made no projections of general practitioner practice data. Any estimate will depend on decisions made by primary care trusts on the local configuration of health services.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary care trusts have submitted plans to his Department for a GP-led health centre in their area. [198262]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department has not asked to see individual plans or specifications from primary care trusts. Strategic health authorities will provide assurances that each primary care trusts’ plans reflect the procurement principles and core criteria.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what he estimates will be the average annual cost of running one of the new 150 GP-led health centres. [198267]
Mr. Bradshaw: The cost of each new service will be dependant upon its clinical design based on local health need.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients he estimates will be registered on average at each of the new 150 GP-led health centres. [198268]
Mr. Bradshaw: This will be determined locally by primary care trusts and is likely to vary depending on the needs and access of the local population.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the establishment of the new 150 GP-led health centres. [198269]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Operating Framework set a national requirement for primary care trusts to undertake open and transparent procurements during 2008-09 for new general practitioner-led health centres. Exact service commencement will depend on a range of local circumstances, including the availability of premises.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average number of general practitioners working in a general practitioner-led health centre. [198270]
Mr. Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. Decisions on service configurations is a local matter for primary care trusts.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of general practitioners he estimates will be based in one of the new 150 general practitioner-led health centres in 2010. [198271]
Mr. Bradshaw: This will be determined by primary care trusts and will depend on a range of local factors, including the clinical design of the services.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what services the new 150 general practitioner-led health centres will be expected to provide. [198272]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department has established the following core criteria for each new health centre service:
easily accessible locations;
core general practitioner (GP) services;
open 8 am-8 pm, seven days per week;
bookable GP appointments and walk-in services;
registered and non-registered patients; and
maximising opportunities to integrate and co-locate with other community based services.
Beyond these, local commissioners will determine the precise range of services in ways that best meet local health needs.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner-led health centres his Department plans to introduce by 2010; and what estimate he has made of the impact of the introduction of these centres on the number of general practitioner practices. [198273]
Mr. Bradshaw: The configuration of health services is a local matter for primary care trusts. From 2008-09 the Department will support primary care trusts (PCTs) in commissioning 152 new general practitioner led health centres to add to existing provision.
PCTs are currently engaging with stakeholders, including local patients and national health service staff about how new health centre services are best provided to meet local needs and the effect they may have on existing provision.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the first of the new 150 GP-led health centres to open. [198274]
Mr. Bradshaw: Primary care trusts are currently developing their plans and specifications with their strategic health authorities. It is too early to say at this stage when and where we expect the first services to open.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the effect of establishing the new 150 GP-led health centres on the average distance from a person's home to the nearest GP surgery. [198275]
Mr. Bradshaw: Primary care trusts are responsible for assessing the impact of local health service configurations. They are currently engaging with their stakeholders, including local patients and national health service staff about how new general practitioner led health centre services are best provided to meet local needs and the effect they may have on existing provision.
Health Services: Regulation
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations have been received by the NHS Appointments Commission in England on the communication skills to be required of professional applicants for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies; [196810]
(2) what representations have been received by the NHS Appointments Commission in England on the patient and public advocacy skills to be required of lay applicants for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies. [196811]
Mr. Bradshaw: This is a matter for discussion between the Appointments Commission and the relevant professional regulatory bodies. However, they will wish to take into account the recommendations in Niall Dickson’s report ‘Enhancing Confidence in Healthcare Professional Regulation, when it is published’.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of proposals requiring members of councils of professional health regulatory bodies regularly to consult national and local patient and consumer bodies. [196845]
Mr. Bradshaw: This matter has been raised during consultation on the Health Care and Associated Professions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order. The Government are in the process of analysing all the responses and a report will be published shortly.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that (a) professional and (b) lay members of councils of (i) professional healthcare regulatory bodies and (ii) the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence reflect patient and service user concerns; and if he will make a statement. [196846]
Mr. Bradshaw: This is currently a matter for discussion between the Appointments Commission and the relevant regulatory bodies. However, in the future they will want to consider the recommendations of Niall Dickson’s report ‘Enhancing Confidence in Healthcare Professional Regulation’, when it is published. We will also be asking the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence for advice on this matter.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration has been given to introducing a requirement for lay applicants for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies to demonstrate an understanding of issues from (a) patient, (b) consumer and (c) public perspectives. [196848]
Mr. Bradshaw: In May 2007, the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Hunt asked Niall Dickson, chief executive of the Kings Fund, to chair one of the seven working groups to take forward key recommendations in the White Paper ‘Trust, Assurance and Safety’. This group was asked to examine those aspects of the White Paper concerned with enhancing public confidence in the regulators of health care professionals. Among these were the criteria for recruitment of lay members for membership of councils of professional health regulatory bodies. The Department will discuss the recommendations of the report of the group with the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence, the regulatory bodies and the Appointments Commission.
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