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8 May 2008 : Column 1171W—continued
The Keep Warm, Keep Well booklet, was made available from September 2007, to allow people to prepare for the colder weather. It was produced in a
number of different formats including non-English language versions, braille, audio, large print and an accessible version for people with learning disabilities. The booklet was available in a variety of outlets, including general practitioners (GP) surgeries. All GP surgeries in England were sent a letter inviting them to order copies of the booklet from the DH Publications Orderline, which is managed by Professional Logistics Ltd. In addition, the booklet was distributed to 5,103 GP surgeries via the Waiting Room Information Service.
The total cost of publishing the booklet was £199,443 and the total cost of distribution was £197,498. As well as making the booklet available via national health service outlets, voluntary and commercial partners distributed the booklet for free.
Research to measure awareness of how to keep warm and well in winter and the help available was carried out in January. This included some evaluation of the booklet in terms of whether the target audience had seen a copy, but did not assess the efficacy of the distribution methods used.
Medical Equipment: Irradiation
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what consideration his Department has given to the use of ultra-violet germicidal irradiation disinfection devices in the healthcare sector; [202442]
(2) whether his Department has investigated the use of ultra-violet germicidal irradiation technology in combating tuberculosis infection; [202443]
(3) what plans his Department has to commission research into the effects and merits of ultra-violet germicidal irradiation technology; what assessment has been made of (a) the costs and (b) the merits of introducing such technology; and if he will make a statement. [202444]
Dawn Primarolo: The Rapid Review Panel (RRP) has reviewed 28 technologies which utilise ultra-violet light. All of these technologies are air purification systems. From these 28 products:
two were awarded a recommendation 2 (basic research and development has been completed and the product may have potential value; in use evaluations/trials are now needed in an national health service clinical setting);
10 received a recommendation 3 (a potentially useful new concept but insufficiently validated; more research and development is required before it is ready for evaluation in practice);
seven received a recommendation 4 (not a significant improvement on equipment/materials/products already available which claim to contribute to reducing health care associated infection; no further consideration needed, or unlikely to contribute to the reduction of health care associated infection; no further consideration needed);
eight received a recommendation 5(insufficient clarity/evidence presented to enable full review of the product); and
one received a recommendation 6 (an already well established product that does not merit further consideration by the panel).
Further information can be found on the RRP's website at:
Unless a technology is awarded a recommendation 1 from the RRP and considered to be clinically effective, the Department does not undertake assessments of cost effectiveness or, of the benefits involved in introducing such technology.
Research has shown that ultra-violet disinfection can be valuable in certain circumstances to reduce airborne bacteria.
Medical Records: Databases
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for deciding that (a) individuals may not opt out of having their demographic data placed on the Spine and (b) not having demographic data on the Spine will prevent individuals accessing NHS treatment; and whether he informed the Health Committee during their recent review of the NHS patient record that individuals would not be able to opt out of having their demographic details on the Spine. [202328]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 22 April 2008, Official Report , column 1990W. The relevant information in that answer reflects information provided in paragraphs 23 and 24 of the Department's written evidence to the Health Select Committee, published by the Committee on 25 April 2007.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who is undertaking the independent evaluation of the electronic patient records pilot; what their terms of reference are; and when the report will be published. [202380]
Mr. Bradshaw: The independent evaluation of the Summary Care Record (SCR) Early Adopters Programme is being carried out by a team from the Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences at University College London, led by Professor Trisha Greenhalgh.
The agreed aims of the evaluation are to assess usability, usage, functionality and impact of the SCR in early adopter sites, and place this in context; to set the stage for the inclusion of further sites and further data sources; to provide timely feedback to stakeholders; and to contribute to the evaluation culture within NHS Connecting for Health and the National Programme for IT.
The report was published by the evaluation team on 6 May and is available via the University College website at:
and the website of the NHS Connecting for Health Evaluation Programme, which is based at the University of Birmingham, at:
Mental Health Services: Children
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many training places were available to those seeking to work in child and adolescent mental health services in each year between 1999 and 2007; and if he will make a statement. [203590]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Information is not collected centrally in the format requested.
Mental Health Services: Prisoners
David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of prisoners received treatment for mental illness in the last five years for which figures are available. [204175]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Mental health services for prisoners have been a key part of the Government’s recent reforms of health services for prisoners. The Department is now investing £20 million a year in national health service mental health in-reach services for prisoners. These are community mental health teams working within prisons and are now available in 102 prisons, with some 360 extra staff employed. Every prison in England and Wales has access to these services. Information on how many prisoners receive these services is not collected centrally.
Mental Health Services: Young People
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health professionals entered further training for child and adolescent mental health services in each year between 1999 and 2007. [202726]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Information is not collected centrally in the format requested. Between 2002 and 2006 (the first and latest dates for which data are available) the number of whole time equivalent staff working in specialist children and adolescent mental health service teams in England increased from 7,321 to 9,705, an increase of 33 per cent.
Source:
A profile of child health, child and adolescent mental health and maternity services in England in 2007.
NHS: Freedom of Information
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department monitors freedom of information (a) requests to and (b) responses from individual NHS trusts; and whether trusts are required to report to his Department freedom of information requests which they receive. [202844]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department does not monitor freedom of information requests or responses from individual national health service trusts, nor does it require trusts to report freedom of information requests which they receive.
NHS trusts are public authorities in their own right, as designated in schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. They are therefore individually responsible for freedom of information requests which they receive.
NHS: Manpower
Mr. Paice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what qualifications and criteria were applied to (a) the selection of individuals to serve on the (i) strategy group, (ii) project executive group, (iii) national reference group and (iv) psychodynamic psychotherapy
group within the Skills for Health Psychological Therapies National Occupation Skills Project and (b) the National Occupational Skills (A) development consultants and (B) research consultants. [203076]
Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
This project is being managed by the sector skills council Skills for Health, under the overall programme to develop national occupational standards. I am asking the chief executive of Skills for Health to write to the hon. Member about this matter.
NHS: Procurement
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the terms of reference of the joint Office of Government Commerce and NHS Purchasing supply review is; when the review is expected to be complete; and if he will make a statement; [204131]
(2) what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the recent Strategic Review of Collaborative Procurement in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [204132]
Mr. Bradshaw: The programme of Procurement Capability (PCR) Reviews was announced in HM Treasury's publication “Transforming Government Procurement” in January 2007. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) was tasked with carrying out these reviews and the Department's review began on 10 March 2008.
The scope of the review is to assess:
the Department's own capability in respect of procurement; and
the leadership, systems and support it has in place to promote and develop high standards of procurement in the national health service—and in respect of social care provision.
The review will be completed with publication of a report by the OGC in November 2008.
The Strategic Review of Collaborative Procurement in the NHS is not yet complete. Consequently, no assessment has been made of the outcomes of the review at this stage although it will be taken into account in the Department's response to the PCR recommendations.
Palliative Care: Heywood
Jim Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data are used by commissioners to determine the need for specialised palliative and neurological care in Heywood and Middleton constituency. [202914]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: It is for individual primary care trusts (PCTs), including Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT, within the national health service to commission services for their resident population, including end of life care and neurological care, based on an assessment of local needs and priorities. Strategic health authorities are responsible for monitoring PCTs to ensure they are effective and efficient.
The “NHS operating framework for 2007-08” asked PCTs, working with local authorities, to undertake a
baseline review of their end of life care services. These will allow local commissioners to assess current services, identify gaps and obtain a much clearer view of local need, which will inform local commissioning.
Regarding neurological care, the information strategy published alongside the “National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions” outlines commissioners' information requirements and a series of local and national actions designed to meet those needs. Copies of the “National Service Framework for Long-term (Neurological) Conditions” are available in the Library.
Pharmacy
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the contribution independent pharmacies make to the provision of access to primary health care; and if he will make a statement;. [203576]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effects of polyclinics on independent pharmacies. [203616]
Dawn Primarolo: As at 31 March 2007, of nearly 11,000 pharmacies in England and Wales, 41 per cent. were classified as independent, which we define as those in chains of five or fewer outlets.They as well as other community pharmacies are well placed to play an important part in improving access to primary health care. Our White Paper “Pharmacy in England—Building on strengths, delivering the future” published last month sets out a comprehensive development programme for them to provide an extended range of quality clinical services. These include help for a range of minor ailments, offering screening services and providing support for people newly prescribed medicines for a long-term condition.
Primary care trusts (PCTs) are currently talking to local stakeholders, including patients and clinicians, to consider how new general practitioner-led health centre services are best provided to meet local needs and the effect they may have on existing provision. PCTs will continue to ensure there are adequate arrangements in place for patients to access pharmaceutical services.
Psychiatric Nurses: Training
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is made in the training of psychiatric nurses for the recognition and understanding of the mental health needs of those aged under 25 years. [203699]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: There is currently no specific education or training route in to specialist children and adolescent mental health services.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council set out the curriculum for pre registration training and standards for registration as a general mental health nurse. Local health trusts arrange post registration training and development with their higher education providers.
We do share a commitment with these bodies that all health professionals are trained, so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to all groups of the population with whom they deal.
Psychiatry
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons humanistic traditions are not accepted as a standard psychotherapy modality under his Department's Skills for Health project; and if he will make a statement. [202938]
Mr. Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
This project is being managed by the Sector Skills Council Skills for Hearth, under the overall programme to develop national occupational standards. I am asking the chief executive of Skills for Health to write to the hon. Member about this matter.
Smoking
Mr. Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has collated the number of cases of illnesses caused by the effects of passive smoking since the implementation of the smoking ban in 2007. [203807]
Dawn Primarolo: We have commissioned research on the health impacts of smokefree legislation in England. However, early assessments are that this legislation is proving to be effective in significantly reducing levels of second hand smoke in enclosed public places and workplaces.
Research from Scotland has reported a range of benefits since smokefree legislation was introduced there, including dramatic improvements in air quality in pubs, improved health, reduced tobacco consumption and no increase in the amount of smoking in the home.
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