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14 Oct 2008 : Column 1170W—continued
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) consultant-led and (b) midwife-led maternity units there were in each region of England at the latest date for which figures are available. [225893]
Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the Healthcare Commission published this information on their website in January 2008, following their review of national health service maternity services. The following table gives details of the number of consultant led and midwife led maternity units by strategic health authority (SHA).
| SHA | Consultant led | Midwife led |
Medical Equipment
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the results of the market surveys associated with his Department’s review of the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services programme model; [226533]
(2) what data his Department used to calculate the contamination costs associated with the Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services programme model. [226535]
Phil Hope [holding answer 13 October 2008]: The Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services (TCEWS) Programme has developed a toolkit to enable local authorities (LAs) and their health partners to calculate the true cost of their decontamination and recycling. The data set covers volumes and values for items handled, staff involved, activities undertaken, transport and other overhead costs. This enables each LA and health partnership to understand what products, in their locality, are economically viable to decontaminate and refurbish.
With regard to the results of the market survey we have made details available on price benchmarking on the initial tariff on the following website
A separate commercial price benchmarking exercise is being undertaken on behalf of the TCEWS. The results of this exercise will be compared to the initial tariff and a final national tariff will be published later this autumn. In addition, we will be publishing a report on a shadow running evaluation in December or early next year.
Medical Treatments: Radioactive Materials
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on nuclear medicine departments of the shortage of supply of isotopes due to producer unit shut-downs in Europe; and what steps are being taken to encourage the resumption of supply. [225885]
Mr. Bradshaw:
There is currently a global shortage of medical isotopes, including molybdenum (Mo-99)/technetium (Tc-99m), which are used in many routine diagnostic nuclear imaging procedures such as heart imaging, bone scans and some cancer detection procedures. At a national level, the Department maintains a close oversight of the effect the shortage of supply of radio-isotopes is having on clinical procedures. For the duration of the shortage, we have put in place weekly situation reports from all national health service providers. For the most part, supplies are running at about 70 to 90 per cent. of normal and the NHS has made adaptations to optimise patient care. We are in close contact with all suppliers to the United Kingdom market and are monitoring their supply position. Through the European
Commission we are working with member states to ensure production and supply issues are being coordinated and that reactors are brought back in to production as soon as practicably possible.
Mentally Ill: Children
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Richmond Park of 22 April 2008, Official Report, column 1993W, on the mentally ill: children, if he will make it his policy to collect data on the number of children diagnosed with a mental health disorder. [227063]
Phil Hope: A survey carried out by Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2004 on behalf of the Department collected data on the prevalence of mental disorders in children. A further study is under consideration.
NHS Direct: Contracts
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) the monetary value and (b) the projected duration is of all contracts most recently awarded to provide services linked to NHS Direct. [225322]
Mr. Bradshaw: NHS Direct has contracts with:
The Department to provide core services for the NHS Direct telephone line (0845 4647), NHS Direct Online and NHS Direct Interactive for' digital television(1). The monetary value of this contract is £139,000,000 for 2008-09. The projected duration of this contract is one year from 1 April 2008;
East of England strategic health authority to provide services for The Appointments Line (choose and book) the monetary value of this contract is 7,300,000 for 2008-09(2). The projected duration of this contract is three years from 1 April 2007; and
Other parts of the national health service to deliver specific and tailored services locally. We do not hold information on the value or duration of NHS Direct’s contracts with other parts of the NHS. This information can be obtained from NHS Direct itself.
(1) Whilst NHS Direct is delivering the content of the 2008-09 contract for core services, the contract itself is currently being finalised by the Department.
(2) The value of The Appointments Line contract for 2008-09 is based on projected call volumes.
NHS: Drugs
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what cash savings he expects to be generated in the NHS drugs budget in each of the next three financial years. [226289]
Dawn Primarolo: The new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme will save an estimated £300 million in both primary and secondary care in England each year over the next few years. In addition, we will continue to prompt greater use of generic medicines and the reduction of medicines wastage.
NHS: Fees and Charges
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date he expects to publish the conclusions of his Department’s consultation on top-up payments in the NHS. [226305]
Mr. Bradshaw: Professor Mike Richards will report to the Secretary of State at the end of October 2008, and findings will be published shortly afterwards.
NHS: Finance
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the financial position of (a) NHS Brent and (b) the North West London Hospitals NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [225492]
Mr. Bradshaw: The latest position, as published in the departmental publication ‘The Quarter’ (August 2008), shows that Brent PCT is forecasting a £12.3 million surplus in the 2008-09 financial year compared to a £1.7 million surplus in 2007-08 and a £25 million deficit in 2006-07. North West London Hospitals NHS Trust is forecasting a break even position for 2008-09, compared to a £1 million surplus in 2007-08 and a break even position in 2006-07. ‘The Quarter’ has been placed in the Library.
In addition both of these organisations failed to meet minimum standards in their ‘Use of Resources’ scores, as published by the Audit Commission in their “Auditor's Local Evaluation Scores 2007-08: Summary results for NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts,” (October 2008). This document has been placed in the Library.
The Department will be focusing on all organisations who failed to meet these minimum standards to ensure an action plan is in place to address the issues very quickly.
Non-profit Making Associations: Finance
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what areas have received financial help for social enterprise initiatives; and how much has been granted in each case. [225866]
Phil Hope [holding answer 13 October 2008]: The following table lists the social enterprises by strategic health authority area, which have received financial assistance from the Department, including the amounts awarded.
| Strategic Health Authority (SHA) | Name of social enterprise organisation | Financial award (£) |
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