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27 Jan 2009 : Column 404W—continued
Learning Disability
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of mistreatment of NHS patients with learning disabilities have been recorded in each of the last five years; [250900]
(2) what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that the treatment of patients with learning disabilities by NHS staff meets the requirements of disability discrimination legislation; and if he will make it his policy to set standards of practice for staff of primary care trusts on treating patients with learning disabilities; [250901]
(3) what steps he is taking to establish the confidential inquiry into premature deaths of people with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [250902]
Phil Hope:
We do not collect centrally data on cases of mistreatment of national health service patients with learning disabilities. However, the Healthcare Commission has provided some information on the
total number of cases which they have received, both open and closed, involving either a complainant(1) or a patient with a learning disability(2).
(1)( )These might include cases where a carer complains on behalf of a patient who lacks capacity or where a patient has died and someone else complains about an aspect of their treatment.
(2)( )The Commission does not use the term 'mistreatment' specifically.
| Year received | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Total |
| (1) The Healthcare Commission did not record separately complaints involving people with learning disabilities which is why the numbers in early years are low. | ||||||
The Healthcare Commission has worked to improve its complaints process to make it accessible for people with learning disabilities. This may be part of the reason for the increase in the number of complaints.
We have launched a national awareness and education programme for the NHS about the disability equality duty. In addition, we are working with the professional regulatory bodies to ensure that the undergraduate curricula for health and social care professionals does include training on learning disabilities, together with wider training on equalities and human rights.
We have introduced a directed enhanced services for annual health checks for people with learning disabilities who are known to local authorities. To deliver the healthcheck, general practitioners and practice staff will receive training in meeting the needs of people with a learning disability
In relation to policy on NHS practice, the NHS operating framework for 2009-10 directs primary care trust to secure general health enquiries that make reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities. They should also ensure that there are wider communication and partnership working arrangements to improve the quality of healthcare provided to people with a learning disability. We will work with strategic health authority to review progress.
We will establish a time-limited confidential inquiry to investigate premature deaths of people with learning disabilities. We are currently developing a specification for the inquiry and we expect to invite proposals from potential organisations in the coming months.
Lighting: Health Hazards
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will commission research into the possible effects on health of the use of low-energy fluorescent bulbs; and what recent discussions he has had at EU level on the use of such bulbs. [250907]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) advises the Department on scientific matters concerning optical radiation including low energy light bulbs. The HPA tested a sample of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and found that some emitted ultraviolet (UV) radiation which could, under certain
conditions, expose people above international guidelines. As a result of its findings the HPA issued precautionary advice on 9 October 2008 to the general public concerning the use of open CFLs in close-working situations. The HPA's advice can be found at:
www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&;HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1223445516605?p=1153822623869
The HPA's research was considered alongside other available evidence to inform a report by the European Commission's Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). SCENIHR's opinion on light sensitivity can be found at:
During 2008, officials in the Department undertook a literature review on lighting and light sensitive and neurological conditions and made the scientific references available to SCENIHR. The Department is continuing to work with patient groups, clinicians and the lighting industry to keep the health issues under review.
In discussions with the European Commission throughout 2008, with regard to implementation of the domestic lighting part 1 of the eco-design of energy saving products Directive 2005/32/EC, the Government successfully pressed for consideration of health impacts to be fully considered and for limits to be set on UV emissions from CFLs.
Macular Degeneration: Derbyshire
Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people had non-age-related macular degeneration in Derbyshire in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; [249975]
(2) how many people had diabetes-related macular degeneration in Derbyshire in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008. [249976]
Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally.
Mental Health Services: Finance
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on mental health care in (a) England and (b) Sefton in each of the last 10 years (i) in absolute terms and (ii) per head of population; and how much he estimates will be spent on such care in the next (A) five and (B) 10 years. [251455]
Phil Hope: These data are not collected centrally in the format requested. However, the following table shows the expenditure per head of population under Mental Health in England and Sefton Primary Care Trust for financial years 2003-04 to 2006-07:
Mental Health Services: Restraint Techniques
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 21 February 2008, Official Report, column 961W, on mental health services: restraint techniques, (1) whether it will be mandatory for all staff engaged in physical restraint interventions to receive accredited training; [250580]
(2) when he expects accredited training in the therapeutic management of violence to be implemented; [250581]
(3) when he expects the guidance of the National Institute for Mental Health in England to be published; [250582]
(4) whether all responses to the National Institute for Mental Health in England consultation on The National Minimum Standards for the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings have now been considered. [250583]
(5) with reference to the answer of 20 February 2008, Official Report, column 812W, on mental health services: training, whether all staff working in mental health and learning disability services have now received the Promoting Safer and Therapeutic Services syllabus training in line with his Department's March 2008 target. [250584]
Phil Hope: We remain committed to the principle of accreditation of training in the management of aggression in psychiatric settings and are discussing the detail and management of a proposal with key stakeholders. We hope to make a further announcement in the spring. The additional guidance will be published when the proposal is agreed.
Responses to the consultation on the national minimum standards for the safe and therapeutic management of aggression of aggression and violence in mental health inpatient settings have been considered.
Figures collected by the National Health Service Security Management Service in December 2007 show that 88 per cent. of frontline staff working in NHS mental health and learning disability bodies had received the Promoting Safer and Therapeutic Services syllabus training. NHS bodies reported that by March 2008 98 per cent. of frontline staff would have received this training.
Mental Health Services: Training
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training his Department will make available to independent mental health advocates before the statutory obligation to commission independent mental health advocates comes into force on 1 April 2009; and whether that training will be mandatory. [250741]
Phil Hope: To help prepare for the introduction of independent mental health advocates (IMHAs), the Department has commissioned the National Institute for Mental Health in England to run regional one-day training workshops for potential IMHAs, mental health advocates and health and social care professionals. These workshops will run prior to 1 April 2009 and attendance will be voluntary.
Midwives: Gloucestershire
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent midwives were in post at (a) Gloucestershire Royal hospital, (b) Cheltenham General hospital and (c) Stroud maternity ward in each of the last two years. [250785]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally, below trust level. The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent midwives in post in Gloucestershire primary care trust and Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust under which the hospitals and ward in question fall.
| NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified midwifery staff in each specified organisation as at 30 September each specified year | |||
| Full-time equivalent | |||
| 2006 | 2007 | ||
| Note: Full time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |||
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Health Services
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the scoping study of the provision of NHS and social care rehabilitation services, as referred to on page 24 of his Department’s Musculoskeletal Services Framework of July 2006; and what opportunities have been identified to improve such NHS-funded services. [249158]
Ann Keen: The scoping study of the provision of national health service and social care rehabilitation services has not been completed.
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Medical Treatments
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the critical mass of annual (a) shoulder replacement, (b) ankle replacement, (c) elbow replacement and (d) scoliosis correction procedures is, as referred to on page 40 of his Department’s Musculoskeletal Services Framework of July 2006. [249159]
Ann Keen: The Department has not undertaken a review of the levels of critical mass required in the provision of shoulder replacement, ankle replacement and elbow replacement.
The National Specialist Commissioning Group are currently reviewing scoliosis treatment and will be working with specialist providers in developing this work.
Musculoskeletal Disorders: Pharmacy
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways the community pharmacy contractual framework has enabled pharmacists to help people with musculoskeletal conditions since 2006 as referred to on page 22 of his Department’s Musculoskeletal Services Framework of July 2006; and if he will make a statement. [249157]
Phil Hope: In addition to their traditional role of advising people on how to take their medicines to best effect, the community pharmacy contractual framework, introduced in April 2005 has improved the quality and range of services that pharmacists offer to patients and the public, including those with musculoskeletal conditions by:
including support for self care, providing healthy lifestyle advice and signposting people to other service providers as essential services provided by all community pharmacies;
introducing medicines use reviews by accredited pharmacists in accredited premises to review patients’ current medicines in discussion with the patient to ensure they get the maximum benefit from them and resolve any problems the person may be encountering with them; and
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