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20 Nov 2008 : Column 687W—continued
Diabetes: Hampshire
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of (a) type 1 and (b) type 2 diabetes have been diagnosed in people of each age group in each primary care trust area in Hampshire in each of the last five years. [237225]
Ann Keen: Information is not collected in the format requested. Information is available from 2004-05 from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) about patients who are on diabetes disease registers, which is not the same as the number of people diagnosed with diabetes each year. This information does not distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, nor is it separated into different age groups.
The following table shows the number of patients aged 17 and over who were on diabetes disease registers in primary care trusts (PCTs) in Hampshire from 2004-05 to 2007-08.
| Number of patients on diabetes disease registers in Hampshire PCTs | ||||
| PCT name | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
| n/a = Not applicable. Notes: 1. Hampshire PCT was created on 1 October 2006 from a complete merger of Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT, East Hampshire PCT, Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT, Fareham and Gosport PCT, Mid-Hampshire PCT, New Forest PCT and North Hampshire PCT. 2. Patients will contribute to the QOF figures only if they are registered with a general practice participating in the QOF. 3. QOF data is collected annually and includes only people with diabetes aged 17 and over. 4. Figures are not available broken down into type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Source: Information Centre for health and social care | ||||
Doctors: Training
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide doctors with training on communication with patients about the costs of different treatment approaches. [236837]
Ann Keen: In his report ‘Improving access to medicines for NHS patients’, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library. Professor Mike Richards recommended that doctors who are likely to have conversations with patients about unfunded treatments should ensure that they have the necessary communication skills to give patients the information they need on the risks, benefits and costs involved in any potential treatment. The Secretary of State has accepted this recommendation, and has asked Professor Richards to take this work forward as quickly as possible. Professor Richards has started this piece of work and is aiming for the training to be rolled out following the development and successful piloting and evaluation of a training ‘module’.
Drugs: Internet
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to prevent the sale of untested and illegal pharmaceutical drugs via the internet; and if he will make a statement; [237674]
(2) what correspondence his Department has received in support of an increase in penalties for individuals selling untested pharmaceuticals on the internet; and if he will make a statement. [237675]
Dawn Primarolo: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) actively monitors the availability of medicines being offered online using specialist equipment and resources focused on identifying websites operating within the UK. Robust action is taken when illegal activity is detected.
Several initiatives are under way to communicate risks posed by online supply of medicines to consumers and potential customers, both by MHRA acting as regulator or in conjunction with relevant organisations such as the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
MHRA is not aware of any specific correspondence relating to increasing the penalties with regard to selling medicines via the internet. Penalties under medicines legislation extend to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
General Practitioners: Cambridgeshire
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what savings were made by GP practices in the NHS Cambridgeshire area through the practice-based commission scheme in 2007-08; [235718]
(2) what the savings were of each GP practice under the practice-based commissioning scheme in the NHS Cambridgeshire (formerly Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust) area, ranked in order from the highest to the lowest level of savings. [236251]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information centrally on the level of savings achieved at a local level by practice based commissioners.
General Practitioners: Pharmacy
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to ensure that the availability of over-the-counter medicines from GP dispensing practices proposed in the Pharmacy White Paper does not affect the viability of community pharmacies in non-rural areas; [236486]
(2) what form the peer review audit of the Medicines Use Reviews (MURs) by primary care trusts proposed in the Pharmacy White Paper will take; and whether general practitioners will have a role in selecting patients for MURs. [236487]
Phil Hope: Consultation on a number of proposals for legislative and structural reform to national health service pharmaceutical services arising from the White Paper “Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths—delivering the future” closed on 20 November 2008.
This included five options to permit the sale of over the counter medicines by general practitioner dispensing practices. We published our assessment of the impact of these proposals, including on other providers such as pharmacies, alongside that consultation. We are updating these assessments in the light of responses received. We will decide which, if any, option to pursue after full consideration.
The White Paper makes clear we are concerned that the provision of Medicines Use Review (MUR) services is currently geared to rewarding the volume of MURs undertaken. NHS primary care trusts are concerned that MUR services are not being targeted to local needs
and patient priorities and that their quality is inconsistent. We believe it is necessary for MUR services to be prioritised to meet health needs. NHS Employers and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee is therefore discussing a mechanism for delivering this objective and ensuring funding rewards health outcomes. We hope general practitioners will support the local development of MUR services by advising on how best health needs can be targeted.
Health Centres
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 3 November 2008, Official Report, column 83W, on health centres, what the potential risks of starting a new service are. [235605]
Mr. Bradshaw: The potential risks are similar to those from starting any new primary care service including: variations in patient volumes, the contract value set at the wrong level and services are in the wrong place or do not meet the needs of local people. However, the process being used by primary care trusts to secure these new services provides an effective way to manage these risks.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2008, Official Report, column 64W, on health centres, what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects on revenues of (a) an existing GP practice and (b) a new GP-led health centre in circumstances where a patient deregisters with the existing GP practice and reregisters at the GP-led health centre. [235723]
Mr. Bradshaw: Where a patient chooses to leave their existing registered practice to register with a new General Practitioner (GP)-led health centre, the existing practice's registered population will decrease by one, and its global sum weighted capitation payment will reduce proportionately. The new GP-led health centre will be paid according to the contract with the primary care trust on the basis of an agreed local, equitable price per patient.
Hospitals: Waiting Lists
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP referrals were made for (a) inpatient and (b) outpatient treatment in each of the last eight quarters. [237155]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department does not collect centrally the number of General Practitioner (GP) referrals made for in-patient treatment.
The total number of GP referrals for a first consultant out-patient appointment in the last eight quarters are shown in the following table.
Hospitals: Yorkshire and Humber
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many delayed discharges there were from (a) the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, (b) York District Hospital and (c) Harrogate Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available. [237174]
Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.
Maternity Services
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2008, Official Report, column 524W, on maternity services, what (a) standalone midwifery units and (b) midwifery units situated alongside consultant-led units there are in each region of England. [238541]
Ann Keen: The following table shows the number of standalone midwifery units and the number of midwife led units situated alongside consultant led units by strategic health authority (SHA).
| SHA | Standalone units | Units situated alongside consultant led units |
| Source: Healthcare Commission's review of maternity services in England (January 2008). | ||
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2008, Official Report, column 524W, on maternity services, when the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts came into operation. [238542]
Ann Keen: The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) came into operation on 1 March 1996. The scheme may only apply to claims made against member bodies where the incident took place on or after 1 April 1995. Further information about CNST can be obtained from the NHS Litigation Authority’s website at:
Melanotan
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the use of melanotan; and whether NICE is undertaking any work in relation to melanotan. [237651]
Dawn Primarolo: We have not had any discussions with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the use of melanotan and NICE is not undertaking any work in relation to this drug.
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with regulators on the safety of Melanotan. [237673]
Dawn Primarolo: Medicinal products are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), part of the Department of Health. The MHRA considers that the unlicensed, injectible products Melanotan I and II fall within the definition of a medicinal product. Unlicensed medicinal products may not be advertised or placed on the market. As the Melanotan products are not licensed, the MHRA has no data to show that they are safe or of good quality.
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