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18 Dec 2008 : Column 1088W—continued
Copies have been placed in the Library.
The December 2008 CMO winter update, which is sent to all doctors registered with the General Medical Council in England, also highlighted the 'Think CO' campaign and the need to raise awareness and consider CO in differential diagnoses. This is available at:
A copy has been placed in the Library.
Other steps include supporting patient groups with Section 64 grants, including CO advice in various departmental publications and the commissioning of research.
Children's Health Strategy
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he plans to publish the Children's Health Strategy; [245272]
(2) what proposals relating to children's palliative care will feature in the Children's Health Strategy. [245273]
Ann Keen: Children, families and stakeholders have been engaged in developing the strategy over the summer, and the proposals are being aligned with other activity and recommendations from key reviews such as the CAMHS review. We expect to be in a position to publish the Child Health Strategy soon. Addressing the needs of disabled and terminally ill children will be part of this strategy.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on (a) cognitive behavioural treatment, (b) aerobic exercise and (c) mitochondrial testing for patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome in each year since 1997. [244737]
Ann Keen: Information on the cost of providing treatment for specific diagnosed conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is not collected.
Clostridium
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines exist for the isolation of patients being checked for C. difficile infection before a diagnosis has been reached. [244996]
Ann Keen: Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Clostridium, difficile infection by a Department of Health/Public Health Laboratory Service Joint Working Group were published in 1994. These guidelines advise that "patients with diarrhoea and suspected of infection should be isolated". The guidelines are available on the Health Protection Agency (HPA) website, link:
http://www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&;Page&HPAweb AutoListName/Page/1179745281238?p=1179745281238
A copy has been placed in the Library.
This guidance is currently being reviewed and the new version will be published shortly.
Further detail on isolation is available in the Guidance on Isolating Patients with Healthcare Associated Infection published by the Department of Health as part of the "Saving Lives" programme in 2007. As this document emphasises,
“the correct and timely placement of infected patients (suspected or proven infection) into single rooms can be very effective in reducing the overall numbers of infected patients; it can also reduce the risk of colonisation in other patients within the ward.”
This document is available on the HPA's website at the same link as above and on the Clean, Safe care website, link:
http://www.clean-safe-care.nhs.uk/public/default.aspx?level=2&;load=Tools&NodeID=181
A copy has been placed in the Library.
Coastal Areas
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 2055W, on coastal areas, what matters have been raised by his Department’s representation on the cross-departmental working group; and at what level his Department is represented at the group’s meetings. [244403]
Phil Hope: The strategic objectives for the Department are better health and well-being for all, better care for all and better value for all.
The cross-departmental working group is looking at English coastal towns. The Department has raised the role of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment set out in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to facilitate stronger local partnerships, including coastal towns, to improve health and social care and reduce inequalities. The Department’s Health Inequalities Spearhead Council programme includes coastal towns.
The Department is represented at Grade 6 level.
Community Nurses: Social Services
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to community nurses on the co-ordination of their work with people employed by social services departments. [244519]
Ann Keen: No guidance has been issued centrally. It is for local national health service organisations in partnership with local authorities to commission high quality services and to integrate health and social care. The Nursing and Midwifery Council's ‘The code: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives’ makes the commitment for members to work with others to protect and promote the health and well-being of those in their care, their families and carers, and the wider community.
Continuing Care
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2008, Official Report, column 68W, on continuing care: standards, how many people were in receipt of continuing care in (a) England, (b) each strategic health authority area and (c) each primary care trust area in each (i) quarter and (ii) year since 1998. [243889]
Phil Hope: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Data before 2007-08 were collected on an annual basis. Prior to 2002-03 these data were not collected.
Dementia
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Government's dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement. [245279]
Phil Hope: We will publish the National Dementia Strategy early in 2009, which will be a major landmark in improving services for people with dementia and their carers.
Departmental Correspondence
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) letters and (b) e-mails received by his Department had not been responded to as at 15 December 2008. [244706]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Whitehall standard target for the Department is to ensure that at least 90 per cent. of all ministerial and public correspondence receives a quality response within 20 working days.
As at the 15 December, the Department had 1,438 letters awaiting a response. Of these, 34 letters have missed the Whitehall standard target.
The Department had 848 emails awaiting response. Of these, 37 emails have missed the Whitehall standard target.
Departmental Energy
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the amount of energy it wastes. [244611]
Mr. Bradshaw: This Department supports and aims to meet the Government's targets to reduce carbon emissions and improve the energy efficiency of the Government estate. We have been working with the Carbon Trust to identify energy saving measures, and will shortly be embarking on a Carbon Management Programme throughout our core estate and in our arm’s length bodies.
We have taken part in a number of staff events aimed at encouraging people to save energy, both at work and at home.
We have produced a Green IT Action Plan that includes a roadmap for implementation of the Quick Win energy saving initiatives within the Cabinet Office Greening Government ICT paper.
Departmental Furniture
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by his Department on furniture made by (a) British firms, (b) Remploy and (c) overseas firms in each year since 2000. [244347]
Mr. Bradshaw: The cost of furniture purchased by the Department since 2001-02 is as follows:
| £ | |
The Department does not currently keep a record of itemised purchases so are unable to break down the figures as requested, though the vast majority of furniture is obtained by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) framework main contracted supplier, Kinnarps, who are Swedish based. The Department does not hold figures for earlier than 2001-02.
Departmental ICT
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 3 November 2008, Official Report, column 78W, on departmental ICT, what the (a) expected completion date and (b) estimated cost of each of the projects listed was at their outset. [242166]
Mr. Bradshaw: The projects listed in my previous answer were those over £100,000 currently being undertaken by the Department, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (PASA). The original expected completion date and estimated cost details are listed as follows:
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