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18 Jun 2008 : Column 1028W—continued
Hospitals: Admissions
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the average cost of administering an admission to hospital in each of the last five years. [211372]
Mr. Bradshaw: The specific information requested cannot be provided, as it is not collected centrally.
Information is available on the average cost of a wide range of services provided in hospitals. These average cost figures include all of the cost elements associated with a patient’s care, such as administering an admission, but these are not separately identified.
Average cost data is collected each year through the “NHS Reference Cost 2006-07” collection exercise. A copy of the national schedule of reference costs for 2006-07 is available in the Library, and is also available on the Department’s website at:
Legislation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what files his Department holds on (a) the Adoption (Amendment) Bill of Session 1989-90, (b) the Human Fertilisation (Choice) Bill of Session 1992-93 and (c) the Freezing of Human Embryos Bill of Session 1995-96; and if he will make a statement. [210689]
Dawn Primarolo: Adoption policy is now dealt with by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. That Department can find no specific files with the title ‘The Adoption (Amendment) Bill of session 1989-90’.
No files are held with this specific title ‘The Human Fertilisation (Choice) Bill of Session 1992-93’.
The Department holds two files on the storage of sperm and embryos and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's Code of Practice on storage of sperm and embryos, relating to the period mentioned.
Medical Treatments: Lasers
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been received by the Healthcare Commission about non-surgical laser and intense pulsed light treatments in the last five years. [210101]
Mr. Bradshaw: Prior to November 2007, the Healthcare Commission did not collate this information centrally. Since November 2007, 51 complaints have been received by the Healthcare Commission about non-surgical laser and intense pulsed light treatment.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse incidents have been reported to the Healthcare Commission from the use of laser and intense pulsed light devices in non-surgical treatments in the last five years. [210119]
Mr. Bradshaw: Prior to May 2007, the Healthcare Commission did not collate this information centrally. Since May 2007, the Healthcare Commission has received eight notifications for adverse incidents in establishments registered to provide laser and light services.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the basis and (b) method was used for calculating the figure of 400 treatments by laser and intense pulsed light establishments per annum referred to in his Department's Private and Voluntary Healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000—regulations and national minimum standards consultation document. [210120]
Mr. Bradshaw: Following professional judgment after consideration of all the available evidence, a working assumption of 400 treatments per annum was drawn up for the Partial Impact Assessment. We expect that the consultation exercise, which closed on 10 June 2008, will provide information to enable the Department to refine this figure.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated by the NHS for laser or intense pulsed light injuries to the skin in the last five years; and how many of these were known to be caused by private non-surgical treatment providers. [210121]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department does not collect data regarding this type of injury; neither does it collect information from private non-surgical treatment providers.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of non-surgical treatment providers using laser or intense pulsed light devices in England; and how many such establishments are registered with the Healthcare Commission. [210122]
Mr. Bradshaw: Private or voluntary organisations providing healthcare services as defined in the Care Standards Act 2000 are required to register with the Healthcare Commission, and to meet the requirements of legislation before they can provide services. There are 941 establishments registered with the Healthcare Commission to provide non-surgical treatment using Class 3B and 4 lasers and intense pulsed lights.
NHS: Public Participation
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will ring-fence funding for annual health checks for those with learning disabilities; [210604]
(2) which organisations are to be consulted on his Department's proposals on investment and clinical services announced on 4 May 2008; [210636]
(3) what the terms of reference are for the consultation on his Department's proposals on investment in access and clinical services announced on 4 May 2008; [210637]
(4) what discussions his Department has had with the British Medical Association in the last two months on his Department's proposals on investment in access and clinical services announced on 4 May 2008; and if he will make a statement. [210638]
Mr. Bradshaw: Through NHS Employers, we have been consulting the British Medical Association (BMA) on a package of investment of up to £100 million through existing general practitioner (GP) practices to further improve care and services for patients, this will included targeted improvements especially for vulnerable patients such as those with severe learning difficulties. These arrangements are linked to the agreement reached with the BMA on investing 1.5 per cent. increase in resources for the provision of primary medical care services, including the cost of funding the independent review bodies pay recommendation for GPs for 2007-08.
A detailed written proposal to implement the Doctors' and Dentists Pay Review Body recommendations for GPs has been sent to the BMA's General Practitioners Committee. This will also provide changes that need to be made to the Statement of Financial Entitlements to introduce the new enhanced patient services set out in the press release of 4 May 2008.
SARS
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking (a) with EU partners and (b) through the World Health Organisation to tackle severe acute respiratory syndrome; [209296]
(2) what estimate he has made of the likelihood of a global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome; and if he will make a statement; [209297]
(3) what contingency arrangements his Department has in place to deal with a global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome. [209298]
Dawn Primarolo: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has not been detected anywhere in the world since the last case in 2004. The Department works with its EU partners through the Health Security Committee, the European Commission’s Early Warning and Response System and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control to monitor emerging health threats and ensure rapid notification of any cases. The measures put in place during the previous global outbreak demonstrated that outbreaks of SARS can be contained and a global pandemic prevented.
The Department also works in close collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) which maintains vigilance to the possibility of re-emergence of SARS, and would co-ordinate the international response to an outbreak. Case definitions for SARS cases have been internationally agreed and through the Global Alert and Response Network the UK will be rapidly notified of cases of SARS occurring anywhere in the world.
The Department has developed a contingency plan in case this disease re-emerges, and has agreed the appropriate public health response for SARS. This plan is based upon our response to that outbreak and our generic preparedness for dealing with any infectious disease outbreak or newly emerging threat, and takes account of WHO guidance.
The integrated public health and health service response to any SARS cases occurring in the UK would focus upon rapid detection of disease, preventing person to person transmission, containing the outbreak and provision of appropriate patient care. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) also developed detailed advice for clinicians on the rapid detection and diagnosis of infection and treatment of patients. The plan and guidance documents are not currently displayed on the Department’s or the HPA’s website as the disease has not been present globally since 2004, but would be activated upon notification of a new SARS case anywhere in the world.
Vioxx
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to compensate individuals who had adverse health outcomes from their prescribed use of the drug Vioxx; and if he will make a statement. [211279]
Dawn Primarolo [holding answer 16 June 2008]: The Department has not paid compensation to individuals who suffered adverse health outcomes from their prescribed use of the drug Vioxx. The correct means of seeking such compensation would be through the courts.
International Development
Afghanistan: Overseas Aid
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has contributed to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund since 2001. [211636]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has contributed a total of £240 million to the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF) since 2002, including £55 million in 2007-08.
Afghanistan: Schools
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of efforts to establish a stable schooling structure in the Helmand region of Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [211172]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: According to the Department of Education (DoE) in Helmand, at the beginning of 2008 there were 224 registered schools, yet only around 50 schools were open and active and only three of these were high schools. In response, the Afghanistan Ministry of Education (MoE), the DoE and the Governor of Helmand agreed a joint education plan, which is now under implementation. The plan is financed by the Danish Government through the UK-led provincial reconstruction team (PRT) in Helmand, with a budget of $6 million for 2008. As well as the construction of schools and dormitories and refurbishment of the DoE, the programme will provide teacher training and support to high school students from districts across Helmand.
Since commencement of this new programme in January 2008, 10 schools have re-opened in the district of Nad Ali, giving an estimated 10 per cent. increase in the number of students in the district. In Musa Qala one school has been opened with fifty teachers registered. The building of three more schools in Musa Qala has been contracted, and one is already under construction. There has also been an increased number of requests for the construction of schools in Lashkar Gah, Nahr-e Saraj (Gereshk), Nawa, Nad Ali and Garmsir.
Africa: HIV Infection
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of funding under the updated AIDS strategy Achieving Universal Access Financial Aid will be received by (a) Botswana, (b) Namibia, (c) South Africa, (d) Mozambique and (e) Zimbabwe. [211190]
Gillian Merron: It is not yet possible to say what percentages of the £6 billion commitment announced in the Government's updated strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world “Achieving Universal Access” will be received by Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
A copy of the updated strategy and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
Africa: Malaria
John Battle:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department is making to tackling malaria in (a)
Senegal, (b) Mali, (c) Malawi and (d) Tanzania; and if he will make a statement. [211191]
Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development is helping to combat malaria through our country programmes and through our support of international organisations and research.
In Malawi, DFID is providing £100 million to support the health sector programme in over six years. This includes support to Malawi’s National Malaria Strategy, which prioritises malaria prevention, case management, treatment and education. To date, over 2.5 million insecticide-treated nets have been distributed. Over one-third of pregnant women and under-fives now sleep under bed nets, and the reported number of clinical episodes of malaria has declined by one-third.
In Tanzania, we provide general budget support to Government. This amounted to £105 million in 2007-08. Approximately 17 per cent. of the national budget was provided to the Ministry of Health which has a programme of action to tackle malaria. In addition, DFID has provided £14 million over a period of nine years from 1998 to 2007 to the Smartnet programme, an initiative to increase the use and treatment of bed nets to protect people, particularly in rural areas from infection. A nationwide survey conducted in April 2007 showed that 63 per cent. of pregnant women and 69 per cent. of under-fives slept under a net the previous night.
DFID does not have bilateral programmes in Senegal and Mali. However, some of the international organisations we support like the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria work in these countries.
DFID is one of the biggest contributors to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, which accounts for nearly 64 per cent. of all international financing for malaria. To date, the fund has approved a total of US $10.8 billion to more than 550 grants in 136 countries; it has disbursed US $5.5 billion. 25 per cent. of approved funding is for malaria programmes.
Africa: Overseas Aid
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which African states receive poverty reduction budget support from the UK; and how much each was allocated in 2007-08. [211700]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: Details on the Department for International Development’s (DFID) Poverty Reduction Budget Support given to African countries in 2007-08 are available in table 5.3, page 93, of the 2008 annual report; “Development: Making it Happen”. This publication is available in the Library of the House and online at:
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage change in levels of bilateral aid to Africa there was between 2004-05 and 2007-08; and how this change compared to commitments made at the G8 and EU summits in 2005. [211817]
Mr. Douglas Alexander:
DFID bilateral expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa in 2006-07 was £1,107 million, an increase of 34 per cent. over the 2004-05 total of
£825 million. DFID bilateral expenditure data for 2007-08 will be available in July 2008.
At the 2005 G8 summit the UK committed to double its bilateral aid to Africa between 2003-04 and 2007-08. DFID bilateral expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa in 2006-07 was 65 per cent. higher than the 2003-04 baseline of £672 million.
Childbirth
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made towards establishing a global register of all births, deaths and the causes of death; and if he will make a statement. [211173]
Mr. Douglas Alexander: The UN Statistical division compiles birth and death information and the World Health Organisation (WHO) cause of death information from all countries on an annual basis. However, there is no single global register of all births, deaths and causes of death and no UN agency currently has responsibility for registering births and deaths.
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