| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
16 Oct 2008 : Column 1454W—continued
Health: Screening
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) from which budget the funding will be taken for the free universal check-ups for everyone over 40 years of age from April 2009; [226283]
(2) how his Department’s free universal check-ups for everyone over 40 years of age, available from April 2009, will differ from the free consultations with a GP that are available to any patient who has not had one in the last three years; [226284]
(3) how his Department plans to advertise to those over the age of 40 years the availability of free universal check-ups from April 2009; [226290]
(4) what checks will be included in the free universal check-ups to be made available to everyone over the age of 40 years starting from April 2009; [226295]
(5) where the free universal check-ups available to everyone over 40 years of age will be delivered; and how long each check-up will take; [226296]
(6) how many free universal check-ups for those over the age of 40 years his Department expects to be given in 2009-10; and what the average cost of each check-up is expected to be; [226297]
(7) how frequently people over 40 years of age will be able to receive a free universal check-up after April 2009. [226298]
Ann Keen: The free universal check up for those aged over 40, to which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister referred on 23 September, is the vascular checks programme. This will put in place an integrated, systematic population-wide vascular risk assessment and management programme for those between the ages of 40 and 74. The programme will assess people’s risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. People will be recalled every five years unless they are identified as having a high risk of vascular disease or have previously untreated or undiagnosed existing vascular disease, in which case they will be managed appropriately through primary care.
The vascular check will include a number of well-evidenced tests for vascular disease and diabetes risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol measurement, and Body Mass Index and questions such as age, gender, smoking status, physical activity, and family history. Each person will be given the results of their tests, which will be an individual assessment of their vascular risk, and advice on how to manage it. Following this, appropriate interventions will be offered depending on the individual’s level of risk. We estimate it will take two appointments at about 15 minutes each to complete the check.
The check is designed to be undertaken in a variety of settings to ensure maximum possible take up. For example, it can be undertaken in a general practitioners surgery, a pharmacy or other community settings such as community centres. Primary care trusts (PCTs) will commission this service and in doing so will decide the most appropriate locations in which it should be delivered bearing in mind the local needs and circumstances of their population.
It is difficult to estimate the number of tests that will be undertaken during the first year of implementation in 2009-10 since many PCTs are already running vascular checks type programmes in their areas. Also, implementation of this programme will be phased and so the number of checks carried out in the first year will depend on the pace at which each PCT decides to roll it out. The estimated average cost of a vascular check used in the first phase of the modelling that underpins this programme was in the region of £33.50. This figure may be subject to change as further modelling work is currently underway to refine costings, following a consultation exercise over the summer. The funding to implement this programme will be allocated to PCTs.
The NHS Next Stage Review, “High Quality Care for All”, published on 30 June 2008, announced the introduction of the ‘Reduce Your Risk’ campaign, which will raise awareness of the vascular checks programme and vascular conditions generally. This publication has already been placed in the Library.
Heart Diseases
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the clinical strategy on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to be published. [226067]
Ann Keen: The Department is aiming to publish the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Strategy before the end of the current financial year.
Independent Reconfiguration Panel
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) who the last five people to leave the Independent Reconfiguration Panel were; when they left; and how long they served for; [226457]
(2) what discussions his Department had with the Independent Reconfiguration Panel on its review of services at Bridlington Hospital prior to the announcement of the Panel's decision; [226541]
(3) how many people the Independent Reconfiguration Panel employs; [226543]
(4) what payments members of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel receive; [226544]
(5) who makes appointments to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel; and what the duration of such appointments is. [226545]
Ann Keen: Four members have left the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP) since it was established in 2003. Dame Kathyrn Elcoat (left 19 May 2005), Lise Llewellyn (left 31 March 2006), Malcolm Stamp (left 31 March 2006) and the Right Reverend Mark Santer (left 30 September 2007).
Departmental officials liaised with the officers of the IRP over the timing of the publication of the IRP report on Bridlington in line with the protocol between DH and the IRP. The Secretary of State for Health also met with Dr. Peter Barrett (chair) and Richard Jeavons (chief executive) of the IRP in July 2008 to review all ongoing IRP work.
The IRP is an advisory non-departmental public body (NDPB) sponsored by the Department of Health. The IRP is supported by three full time staff, a chief executive, a secretary and an office support manager.
Members of the panel are entitled to claim £140 per day for work on IRP business together with normal expenses in line with civil service rates.
It is the Appointments Commission who appoints all members to the IRP and all original members have been re-appointed though the Appointments Commission. Although the chair of the IRP was reappointed by Ministers on 1 April 2005, this time he will be re-appointed by the Appointments Commission. Initial terms of office are usually four years.
Lung Diseases
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have also been diagnosed with asthma in each primary care trust in England; and if he will make a statement. [226478]
Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally as it is not possible to accurately identify or analyse patients with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from General Practice Disease Registers.
Maternity Services
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on (a) the NHS and (b) NHS maternity services in the 2007-08 financial year. [225896]
Ann Keen: The requested statistics are given as follows.
Forecast outturn net NHS expenditure for 2007-08 is £89,217 million(1).
Total expenditure on the commissioning of secondary maternity services by primary care trusts in 2007-08 is £ 1,787 million(2).
Sources:
(1) Position at 30 September HMT COINs Database
(2) 2007-08 Audited PCT Financial Monitoring and Accounts Forms
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire of 2 April 2008, Official Report, columns 1101-02W, on maternity services: finance, how much was spent on NHS maternity services in each region of England in 2007-08. [225946]
Ann Keen: The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Strategic health authority (SHA) | £000 |
| Source: Audited primary care trust (PCT) Financial Monitoring and Accounts Forms 2007-08.The figures are based on the commissioning of secondary healthcare maternity services by PCTs. | |
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess whether a policy of introducing compulsory single room occupancy in maternity units would result in the closure of any existing units. [226721]
Ann Keen: In the national health service, it is practice that all women give birth in single rooms except where medical interventions take place, for example, a caesarean section which would mean delivery in an operating theatre. Pre and post-natal stays may be in a single room or in a multi-bed bay. In some cases, especially antenatal, it may be inappropriate from a clinical standpoint, for example, day observation, for a single room to be used.
There is no policy of compulsory single room occupancy. How maternity services are structured and commissioned, to meet the needs of the local population, is a matter for local determination.
Medical Equipment
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of disposable surgical instruments supplied to the NHS since 1997, broken down by sub-heading. [226277]
Mr. Bradshaw: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table.
NHS trusts and strategic health authorities make decisions on the use of disposable or single-use instruments at local level.
A framework agreement for single use instruments was awarded in May 2001 with all products for England being supplied through the NHS Supply Chain. NHS Supply Chain places orders against this agreement depending on the orders received from NHS trusts. The framework is not mandatory and does not cover all NHS trusts. Prior to 2003 data were collated at a local trust level and no information is held centrally.
| Cost of single use surgical instrument orders | ||||||
| £ | ||||||
| Description | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |