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24 Nov 2008 : Column 924W—continued
| FTE | |||||||||
| SHA | 2006 | 2007 | 2009 | 2012 | Change 2006 to 2009 | Percentage change 2006 to 2009 | Change 2006 to 2012 | Percentage change 2006 to 2012 | Plan signed off |
| Note: These figures were taken from individual SHA Maternity and Neo-natal workforce plans returned to the Department in February 2008. In addition, 2007 figures do not reflect the latest NHS Workforce Census Data. The 2006 figures are published data from the NHS Workforce Census. | |||||||||
Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 28 October 2008, Official Report, columns 919-20W, on multiple sclerosis: drugs, what factors his Department considered when deciding not to publish Annex C of the ScHARR report; if he will place in the Library a full copy of the report; how many of the 5,000 patients subject to routine monitoring are still taking any of the drugs covered by the scheme; in which peer-reviewed medical journal the results of the two-year analysis will be published; and if he will make a statement. [237791]
Ann Keen: The Department considered a range of factors in deciding not to publish Annex C of the ScHARR report. These included the commercially confidential nature of the material in the annex. The ScHARR report was submitted to the Department as a summary of the work undertaken on the scheme. We have no plans to publish a full copy of the report or place it in the Library. A great majority of the 5,000 patients monitored in the risk sharing scheme are still taking the drugs covered by the scheme. Fuller details of patient numbers will be included in the forthcoming two-year analysis. Arrangements are being made for the publication of this analysis but it has yet to be accepted for publication in a specific journal.
National Health Service: Telephone Numbering
Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has considered changing its 084 telephone numbers to 03 numbers in the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement. [236189]
Mr. Bradshaw: An information gathering exercise has been completed on the use of 084 telephone numbers in general practice. As part of that exercise, the merits of 03 numbers have also been considered.
The information gathered has been subject to lengthy and detailed analysis before being shared with Ministers, who are currently deciding on the most appropriate course of action. In the meantime, the Department remains clear that it does not expect patients to pay more than the equivalent cost of a local rate call when contacting their general practitioner.
NHS Direct
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what parties were consulted prior to the decision being taken that NHS Direct will not be granted foundation trust status; [237013]
(2) what plans his Department has to review the future operation of NHS Direct following the decision that it will not become a foundation trust; [237182]
(3) what reasons have been given to his Department for the decision by NHS Direct not to pursue foundation trust status; and if he will make a statement. [237636]
Mr. Bradshaw:
The Department of Health and NHS Direct jointly commissioned KPMG to look at options
for a future model for commissioning and delivering a multi-channel health information and advice service to the public. The review also considered whether foundation trust was an appropriate organisational form for NHS Direct.
In the course of the review, KPMG consulted representatives from:
the Department;
NHS Direct;
the NHS including: East Midlands Strategic Health Authority, Nottingham City Primary Care Trust, Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust, Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, London Ambulance Service, Wolverhampton Primary Care Trust, Trafford Primary Care Trust, NHS Direct Wales, North East SHA, South West Ambulance Trust, East of England Primary Care Trust, NHS Blood and Transplant, Devon Doctors; and
external organisations including Pfizer Health Solutions UK.
The review concluded, among other things, that foundation trust status was not the right organisational model for NHS Direct at the current time. The recommendations were that NHS Direct’s current status as an NHS trust should be retained for now until financial and contracting mechanisms are reviewed and agreed and foundation trust policy on national organisations is clarified. This does not preclude NHS Direct from reapplying for foundation trust status in the future. All parties agreed to accept the recommendations.
The Department continues its ongoing discussions with NHS Direct about future operational and organisation form, taking into account factors such as NHS Choices and the Government's wider work on digital technology.
NHS: Cleaning Services
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations have been cancelled in the Leeds Health Authority area due to surgical equipment being inadequately sterilised in each of the last two years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of those cancellations to the NHS. [238697]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally and no estimate of cost can be made.
The Government's cancelled operations policy introduced in April 2002 provides an incentive for hospitals to avoid cancellations by giving patients the right to move to the hospital of their choice if they are not treated within 28 days. Since this came into force, the number of operations cancelled at the last minute has fallen from 1.5 per cent. to 0.9 per cent. of elective activity.
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the value is of the contract awarded to the private sector company to carry out surgical equipment sterilisation in the Leeds Health Authority. [238698]
Ann Keen: The Department does not hold the information requested.
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is part of a collaboration for decontamination services with Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. Each trust has a separate contract with B. Braun Sterilog.
NHS: Drugs
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to paragraph 3.18 of the report to him by the National Cancer Director, Improving access to medicines for NHS patients; which NHS organisations (a) did and (b) did not maintain that a patient who purchases an additional private drug for a condition is no longer entitled to NHS care for that condition. [237022]
Mr. Bradshaw: Professor Richards’ review did not assess whether the existing guidance had been applied appropriately, but instead sought to develop a view on whether it was sufficiently comprehensive or clear to provide a useful resource for the national health service in the future.
Professor Richards found that there was too much variation across the country in the way the guidance was being applied. This is why the Secretary of State issued, on 4 November, revised guidance for consultation which makes clear that patients wishing to purchase additional private care should not have their NHS care withdrawn. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of all submissions made to Professor Mike Richards’ review reported on in “Improving access to medicines for NHS patients”. [237023]
Alan Johnson: Professor Mike Richards published, as part of his report “Improving access to medicines for NHS patients”, a summary of the views he heard as part of his comprehensive engagement exercise, including a summary of the mailbox responses. This can be found at appendix 2 of his report.
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence referred to in paragraph 2.17 of “Improving access to medicines for NHS patients”; if he will list the criteria used to demonstrate cost-effectiveness; and if he will make a statement. [237025]
Dawn Primarolo: I understand that the evidence referred to by Professor Richards in paragraph 2.17 of his report includes appraisals conducted by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) such as NICE’s appraisals of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of trastuzumab (Herceptin) for both early-stage and advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.
Information relating to these appraisals is available on NICE’s website at:
(early-stage)
(advanced).
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to implement recommendation 1 of “Improving access to medicines for NHS patients”; with regard to what specific steps he will take to publish updated timetables; and if he will make a statement. [237030]
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