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22 July 2008 : Column 1067W—continued
Rural GPs
14. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on the ability of rural GPs to dispense to patients living a mile or more away from a GP surgery; and if he will make a statement. [220347]
Dawn Primarolo: We have not received any representations concerning the ability of rural GPs to dispense to patients living a mile or more away from a GP surgery.
There are some proposals in the White Paper which suggest ways in which dispensing services may be provided but any final decisions on future criteria will be taken in the light of the responses and feedback received to the consultation.
GPs: Barnsley
15. Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there are in Barnsley; and if he will make a statement. [220348]
Mr. Bradshaw: There are 128 GPs in the Barnsley primary care trust area. I am pleased to report that under the proposals in the NHS next stage review Barnsley PCT will be developing three additional GP surgeries and a GP-led health centre.
NHS Dentistry
16. Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of levels of access to NHS dentistry. [220349]
Ann Keen: Latest data show that 27.3 million people saw an NHS dentist at least once in the 24 months ending December 2007.
We are committed to increasing access to NHS dentistry, and have made this a requirement for PCTs in the NHS operating framework. We have increased dental funding by 11 per cent. this year to a total of £2.081 billion.
Doctors: Ethics
19. Dr. Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on whether NHS doctors should be permitted to refrain from providing medical care to patients on the basis of the personal religious or other beliefs of the doctor other than under statute. [220353]
Mr. Bradshaw: National health service doctors are under a professional obligation to provide medical care to their patients.
“If carrying out a particular procedure or giving advice about it conflicts with your religious or moral beliefs, and this conflict might affect the treatment or advice you provide, you must explain this to the patient and tell them they have the right to see another doctor. You must be satisfied that the patient has sufficient information to enable them to exercise that right. If it is not practical for a patient to arrange to see another doctor, you must ensure that arrangements are made for another suitably qualified colleague to take over your role.”
Patient Choice
20. Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to extend patients' ability to choose their GP practice. [220354]
Mr. Bradshaw: Most people already have the freedom to choose their own general practitioner (GP) but in too many places there is no real choice. Proposals outlined in our new Primary and Community Care strategy, ‘NHS Next Stage Review, Our Vision for Primary and Community Care’, earlier this month will ensure people enjoy a real choice of GP, just as they already do of hospital.
Healthy Lifestyles
21. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government have taken to encourage people to adopt healthy lifestyles. [220355]
Dawn Primarolo: Firstly we are providing comprehensive information to help individuals and families make healthy choices in their lives. Secondly we are increasing support to those who want to make positive changes in their lifestyles—giving greatest support to those who need most help. Finally we are building partnerships with all stakeholders.
Stroke Care Services
22. Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals in England are able to provide hyper-acute stroke care services, including constant access to effective brain scanning followed by professional interpretation; and if he will take steps to increase this number. [220356]
Ann Keen: The latest audit round to take place, in 2006, showed that 196 hospitals in England have a stroke unit. This is 97 per cent. of all hospitals in England. All these hospitals have a consultant physician responsible for stroke.
In 2006, nearly all hospitals had facilities to scan the brain. Over 90 per cent. of stroke units providing acute care had access to brain imaging within 24 hours of admission.
The National Stroke Strategy and the supporting Imaging Guide outline the characteristics of gold standard stroke services and provide useful information on how to implement the changes needed to achieve them.
Patient Dignity
23. John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure patient dignity in the NHS. [220357]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Our Dignity in Care campaign aims to create zero tolerance of abuse and disrespect of older people in all care settings. Over 2,500 people have signed up as dignity champions, committed to improving dignity in their local care services.
In October 2007, we launched the Nutrition Action Plan to address issues that emerged from the campaign about older people's nutrition. A Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board has been set up to ensure delivery of the Action Plan commitments.
On 30 June, we launched for consultation a groundbreaking constitution for the NHS. The constitution enshrines the principles and values of the NHS for the future. It makes clear that patients have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.
Also on 30 June, we published: "High quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report", which confirms that dignity and respect should be a core value of the NHS.
On 16 July, we launched the End of Life Care Strategy, backed with £286 million, to provide high quality care for all adults approaching the end of their life. It will help more people to die in the setting they choose, mainly at home surrounded by loved ones. A key part of the strategy is encouraging services that respect dignity at the end of life.
We are committed to reducing hospital mixed-sex accommodation to an absolute minimum and to ensuring that where the need to treat a person takes precedence over complete gender separation, everything possible is done to maximise privacy and dignity.
Dispensing Medicine: Market Entry
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for his Department's forthcoming consultation on control of market entry for dispensing medicine. [220344]
Dawn Primarolo: As I announced in my written ministerial statement on 17 July 2008, the consultation on a number of proposals in our pharmacy White Paper will start next month.
NHS Next Stage Review
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private health companies made submissions to the NHS next stage review. [220352]
Mr. Bradshaw: Among the 200 submissions received nationally as part of the NHS next stage review were submissions from BUPA, Spire Healthcare, The Priory Group, UnitedHealth Europe, Assura Group and Abbott UK.
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from hon. and right hon. Members wishing to liberalise the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; what response he has given; and if he will make a statement. [219644]
Dawn Primarolo: During 2008, we have received 245 letters from hon. Members on issues relating to abortion and about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, some of which have mentioned abortion. Records are not kept on how many of these support or oppose liberalising the law on abortion.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has (a) issued and (b) plans to issue during the next 12 months on the definition of a serious handicap as grounds for an abortion; and if he will make a statement. [219663]
Dawn Primarolo: The Department has commissioned the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to review its guideline ‘Termination of Pregnancy for Fetal Abnormality’ (January 1996).
The revised guideline should be completed by autumn 2009.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed under ground (a) A, (b) B, (c) C, (d) D, (e) E, (f) F and (g) G of the Abortion Act 1967 in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007. [219706]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is set out in the following table.
| Legal abortions by grounds, residents of England and Wales, 2006 and 2007 | ||
| Grounds | 2006 | 2007 |
Abortion: Drugs
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what legislation regulates the selling of abortion drugs on the internet; and if he will make a statement; [219661]
(2) if he will bring forward legislation to restrict the selling of abortion drugs on the internet; and if he will make a statement. [219708]
Dawn Primarolo: In the United Kingdom, there are strict legal controls on the retail sale, supply and advertisement of medicinal products which are set out in the Medicines Act 1968. These legal controls apply equally to medicines for human use sold or supplied via internet or e-mail transactions. Prescription-only medicines may only be sold or supplied in accordance with a doctor's prescription at registered pharmacy premises, or by an internet pharmacy which has been approved by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and bears the relevant logo, or under the supervision of a pharmacist.
Websites supplying medicines that are based overseas, or fulfil orders from overseas, are outside the jurisdiction of the UK medicines regulatory authority.
Generally, medicines that are brought into the UK by an individual for his or her own personal use or that of a member of his/her family are not subject to the controls of medicines legislation.
There are no plans at this time to change medicines legislation.
Abortion: Teenage Pregnancy
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were performed on people aged (a) 10, (b) 11, (c) 12, (d) 13, (e) 14, (f) 15 and (g) 16 years old at (i) less than nine weeks, (ii) nine to 12 weeks, (iii) 13 to 16 weeks, (iv) 17 to 20 weeks, (v) 21 to 24 weeks and (vi) 24 weeks and over gestation on each of the seven grounds in the Abortion Act 1967 in (A) 2006 and (B) 2007. [219707]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is set out in the following tables.
| Abortions by age under 17, gestation and grounds, residents of England and Wales, 2007 | ||||||
| Gestation weeks | ||||||
| Age at termination | under nine | Nine to 12 | 13 to 16 | 17 to 20 | 21 and over | Total |
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