| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
15 May 2008 : Column 1668W—continued
NHS: Working Hours
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the results of the NHS national workforce projects pilots on the European Working Time Directive. [204221]
Ann Keen: Full details of all the national health service national workforce projects pilots including locations and where available their objectives, results and lessons learned have been placed in the Library. All this information can also be viewed at the national workforce project website at:
Nurses
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department expects to publish guidance on the commissioning of specialist nursing services for patients with (a) diabetes, (b) Parkinson's disease, (c) multiple sclerosis, (d) epilepsy, (e) breast cancer and (f) stroke. [204268]
Ann Keen: We have published Long Term Neurological Conditions: A good practice guide to the development of the multidisciplinary team and the value of the specialist nurse. This guide has been prepared for commissioners and managers to highlight the role and contribution of specialist nurses. These principles are transferable to other specialities.
Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Library and can be found on the Department's website at:
Nutrition: Logos
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications his Department has received for a licence to use the 5-a-day logo from (a) voluntary groups, (b) Government departments, (c) NHS bodies and (d) local authorities. [204271]
Dawn Primarolo: Government Departments do not require a licence. We have received 48 applications from voluntary groups, 118 applications from national health service bodies and 32 applications from local authorities.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications his Department has received to use the 5-a-day logo on fruit or vegetable packaging. [204272]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department has received 117 applications to use the 5-a-day logo on fruit and vegetable packaging. Applications can be for a number of items in a product range produced or supplied by the applicant.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications to become an official partner of the 5-a-day campaign have been approved by his Department. [204273]
Dawn Primarolo: All organisations using the 5-a-day logo are considered to be 5-a-day partners. There are currently 407 licences in place to use the 5-a-day a logo. A further 268 licences have been approved since the launch of the 5-a-day logo but have since been delisted or not renewed.
Organs: Donors
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has held on the proposed Europe-wide organ donor card. [204266]
Ann Keen:
In May 2007, a European Commission (EC) Communication on organ donation suggested
that the introduction of a European donor card might help increase organ donation rates across the European Union. The European Parliament has also inter alia called for an EU donor card that would complement existing national systems. However, the potential benefits and risks of a European donor card continue to be discussed by member states as part of a wider consideration of the EC's Communication.
Pharmacy
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to collect information on numbers of independent pharmacies. [204598]
Dawn Primarolo: Information on the ownership of community pharmacies is collected by the Information Centre for health and social care and published in the ‘General Pharmaceutical Services in England and Wales 1997-98 to 2006-07 (Annual Bulletin)’. Copies of the latest bulletin have been placed in the Library and are also available at:
Pharmacy: Disadvantaged
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the centralisation of primary healthcare services on pharmacy services to vulnerable groups; and if he will make a statement. [204599]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 8 May 2008, Official Report, column 1176W.
In continuing to ensure that there are adequate arrangements for patients to access pharmaceutical services, primary care trusts will consider the needs of vulnerable groups.
Queen's Hospital Romford: Admissions
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the bed occupancy rate was at the Queen's Hospital Romford in each month since January 2007. [205372]
Mr. Bradshaw: Information is not available in the format requested. Information is collected annually at national health service trust level, and the latest data available are for 2006-07.
Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust manages the services at Queen's Hospital, Romford, King George Hospital, Ilford, and Barking Hospital. The 2006-07 data provided by the trust show an occupancy rate of 89.5 per cent. for beds in wards that are open overnight.
WiFi: Health Hazards
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Health Protection Agency on progress on its investigation into the potential health implications of WiFi and WLAN technology. [204270]
Dawn Primarolo: In September 2007, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) announced its intention to systematically investigate the types of WiFi equipment in use and produce information on exposures to radio signals from wireless computer networks. The work started in November and should last for two years. The HPA provided a brief report to its Radiation Chemical and Environmental Hazards Sub-Committee meeting in April 2008 attended by a Departmental official. The work is making satisfactory progress. HPA Board Sub-Committee minutes and a summary of background information on WiFi can be found on the HPA web site at:
www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&;Page&HPAwebContentAreaLanding/Page/1153822623782(WiFi background)
www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947341079(Board Sub-Committee meetings)
[The following answers were received for publication on 15 May 2008.]
Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust: Finance
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the financial performance of the Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Hospitals Trust. [205370]
Mr. Bradshaw: We recognise the challenging financial position of Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust, which at quarter three was forecasting a deficit of £39.9 million for the 2007-08 financial year. We are continuing to work with the London Strategic Health Authority as they and the trust's management develop plans for the trust's financial recovery.
Care Homes
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received NHS Continuing Care in (a) 2004-05, (b) 2005-06, (c) 2006-07 and (d) 2007-08 to date in each primary care trust [185601]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Chronically Sick: Health Services
Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made in relation to the World Class Commissioning Initiative of best practice in the commissioning of services for long-term conditions, such as arthritis, which do not currently feature as clinical indicators in the quality and outcomes framework of the General Medical Services contract. [204748]
Mr. Bradshaw: The World Class Commissioning Programme endeavours to drive commissioners to improve health outcomes across all health needs and conditions.
The World Class Commissioning Programme requires commissioners to routinely seek and report on research
and best practice evidence, including clinical evidence, which will assist in commissioning and decision-making. Commissioners will need to show that they are prioritising investment, identifying and commissioning against key priority outcomes, taking into account patient experiences, local needs and preferences, risk assessments and national priorities.
Commissioners will be held to account on their commissioning performance through an assurance that is intended to lead them towards world class.
Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients: Young People
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many persons (a) under 16 and (b) from 16 to 18 years of age (i) are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and (ii) were detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each of the last five years. [197964]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect the information requested.
Departmental Managers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the (a) agenda and (b) minutes of the last six meetings of his Department's departmental board. [205241]
Mr. Bradshaw: A summary of proceedings from each scheduled meeting of the departmental board is published on the Department's website within three months of the meeting. The summary of proceedings from the departmental board meetings on 14 June 2007, 12 July 2007, 11 October 2007, 8 November 2007, 17 January 2008, and 14 February 2008 will be placed in the Library. The summary of proceedings from the departmental board meeting on 3 April 2008 will be placed in the Library once the minutes have been agreed at the next meeting.
Departmental Public Expenditure
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of his Department’s (a) capital budget and (b) revenue budget that has not yet been allocated for (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11. [205198]
Mr. Bradshaw: Over 80 per cent. of national health service revenue funding for 2008-09 was allocated to the NHS in primary care trust (PCT) allocations on 13 December 2007. The remaining funding is centrally controlled either by:
strategic health authorities (funding allocated on 5 February 2008); and
the Department (funding allocated to budget holders at the beginning of this financial year).
Revenue allocations for 2009-10 and 2010-11 have not yet been announced.
The Department has changed the system of NHS capital allocations so that most of the capital funding that is destined for spend by NHS trusts and PCTs is allocated in response to capital plans that are submitted by NHS trusts and PCTs at the start of the year. Plans for 2008-09 will be finalised in May. The 2008-09 plans include indicative figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11 expenditure, which will not be agreed until the start of those years.
Capital resources have also been set aside to cover foundation trusts, which fund their capital expenditure through cash retained from their operating cash-flows and through prudential borrowing.
Over 55 per cent. of 2008-09 capital resources have been set aside to be drawn under the aforementioned arrangements to fund the local capital investment plans of NHS trusts, foundation trusts and PCTs.
The remainder is centrally managed. It comprises central budget funding (e.g. Connecting for Health) and ‘programme capital’. Central budget holders were allocated their budgets on 17 March 2008. ‘Programme capital’ is funding for capital costs incurred locally of delivering centrally determined investment priorities. This funding will be allocated in the first half of the financial year.
Food Supplements: EU Law
David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the food supplements directive and the nutrition and health claims directive are implemented in the Crown Dependencies of the United Kingdom in accordance with Protocol 3 of the UK's Treaty of Accession; [205920]
(2) with reference to the answer of 25 October 2007, Official Report, columns 551-54W, on dietary supplements: EU law, whether the Food Standards Agency has received responses from the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey to the letters it sent on 10 September 2007; and when a collective meeting with the representatives of these Governments is planned to take place. [205921]
Dawn Primarolo: Responses have been received from the Governments of Jersey and Guernsey, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) hosted a meeting of representatives from the Crown Dependencies on 11 April 2008.
The FSA continues to work with the Ministry of Justice, the Department responsible for the Crown Dependencies, and the Administrations in the Crown Dependencies regarding implementation of the food supplements directive and nutrition and health claims Regulation to prevent trade in food supplements that would be illegal in the United Kingdom.
General Practitioners
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what weighting was given to (a) the number of primary care clinicians, (b) health outcomes and (c) patient satisfaction with GP services as indicators in determining in which primary care trust areas with poorest provision to establish new GP practices; [203443]
(2) what score was given to each primary care trust in determining in which to establish new GP practices in areas with the poorest provision for (a) number of primary care clinicians, (b) health outcomes and (c) patient satisfaction with GP services; and what the data source was for each indicator. [203444]
Mr. Bradshaw: The range of indicators used to determine the primary care trusts (PCTs) with poorest provision, their data source and associated weightings are shown in the following table. For each PCT, the standardised distance from the England average was calculated for each indicator. These distances were assigned a weight based on the three themes and each PCT was then ranked based on the sum of the weighted differences. The following table shows PCTs and their distances.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |