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12 Feb 2009 : Column 2165W—continued
Cancer: Coventry
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to improve provision of the cancer services in Coventry. [255354]
Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007, sets out guidance to the local national health service on how to improve cancer prevention, speed up the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, reduce inequalities, improve the experience of people living with and beyond cancer, ensure care is delivered in the most appropriate settings and ensure patients can access effective new treatments quickly. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to use the funds made available to them and work in partnership with strategic health authorities, local services, cancer networks and other local stakeholders to deliver these aims. Information on the work being done in the Coventry area can be obtained direct from Coventry Teaching PCT.
Through the Cancer Reform Strategy’s National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, the Department, in partnership with Cancer Research UK, is co-ordinating a programme to support local interventions to increase cancer symptom awareness, and encourage people to seek help early.
Cardiovascular System: Screening
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans his Department has to extend the vascular checks programme beyond GP surgeries; [255744]
(2) what assessment he has made of the merits of carrying out vascular risk assessments and measurements in the workplace as part of the health, work and well-being strategy; [255746]
(3) in what setting vascular risk assessments and measurements will be provided for people between the ages of 40 and 74 years. [256014]
Ann Keen: The vascular checks programme has been designed to be undertaken in a variety of settings to ensure that those who are not regularly in touch with formal health care can access the programme. Primary care trusts will commission the programme to reflect the needs of their population and how they access services. Primary care trusts may, therefore, commission the service from general practitioners, pharmacies or other providers which their target group access. This could include running the programme in a workplace setting.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how people aged between 40 and 74 years old will be notified that they are eligible for vascular risk assessments and measurements. [255745]
Ann Keen: As part of preparing primary care trusts for implementation, the Department will make available a standard invitation letter and leaflet about the vascular checks programme. Until the national call and recall system is developed, primary care trusts will decide locally who and how to call people first. Current vascular checks type activity across the country suggests that for some populations other methods of invitation e.g. through telephone calls generate a better take up. Working through NHS Improvement, we are making available learning on this and other aspects of the programme across the country. Once the call and recall system is developed, people will recalled every five years for their check.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department plans to take to measure the level of uptake of vascular risk assessment and measurements amongst people between the ages of 40 to 74 years; [255747]
(2) whether all primary care trusts in England will be required to implement the vascular checks programme from 1 April 2009. [256013]
Ann Keen: Many primary care trusts, especially in spearhead areas, already have vascular checks type programmes in place. The implementation of the vascular checks programme will be phased during 2009-10. All primary care trusts will be expected to have undertaken some activity to support the programme during this period. We are working with strategic health authorities to ensure all primary care trusts implement the programme. We are developing an evaluation strategy that will provide information on the rate and mode of implementation. As part of the evaluation, we will look at uptake amongst groups less likely to participate in the programme and those particularly likely to benefit since they are inherently likely to be at higher risk. These groups will vary from primary care trusts to primary care trusts.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking in the implementation of the vascular checks programme (a) to ensure that hard-to-reach groups receive checks and (b) to evaluate uptake among these groups; [255748]
(2) what role the vascular checks programme will have in reducing health inequalities; and if he will make a statement. [256012]
Ann Keen: The vascular checks programme has the potential to reduce health inequalities and has been designed to form part of the Department's overall programme for tackling them. The assessment element of the programme has been designed to be undertaken in a variety of settings to help to ensure that everyone who is eligible can access the programme. In November 2008 the Department issued guidance to primary care trusts Next Steps' guidance for Primary Care Trusts which underlines the need for them to commission a programme that tackles and reduces health inequalities. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.
Care Homes: Fees and Charges
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of care home residents were asked to pay a top-up fee in (a) Eastbourne, (b) East Sussex and (c) England in each year since 2004. [257202]
Phil Hope:
Information about top-up fees is not collected centrally. However, according to the Office of Fair Trading report, “Survey of Older People in Care
Homes”, published in May 2005, 33 per cent. of the 382 United Kingdom local authority funded residents interviewed said part of their fees were paid as a third party contribution or top-up.
Care Homes: Standards
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of care homes did not meet each of the National Minimum Standards for care homes in the year ended 31 March 2008. [255595]
Phil Hope: I am informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that its inspectors assess the performance of care homes against each national minimum standard (NMS) and rate them on a four-point scale. A score of 4 indicates that a standard has been exceeded. A score of 3 shows that it has been met. A score of 2 denotes that the standard has not been met with minor shortfalls—this indicates that one of the numerous subsections in the standard has not been completely met. A score of 1 means the standard has not been met.
The following tables show the scores of care homes against the NMS for care homes for younger adults and older people, broken down by number and percentage, for the year ending 31 March 2008.
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