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24 Jun 2009 : Column 1011W—continued
| Mumps | |||||||||
| Sex/age | |||||||||
| Male | Female | Unknown | |||||||
| 0-9 | 10-13 | 14-17 | 18+ | 0-9 | 10-13 | 14-17 | 18+ | 18+ | |
| Rubella | |||||||||
| Sex/age | |||||||||
| Male | Female | Unknown | |||||||
| 0-9 | 10-13 | 14-17 | 18+ | 0-9 | 10-13 | 14-17 | 18+ | 18+ | |
| Notes: 1. Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Primary and secondary diagnoses The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was admitted to hospital. As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 19 (13 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and six prior to 2002-03) secondary diagnosis fields in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care. 3. Codes used to denote measles, mumps or rubella Measles B05.—Measles Mumps B26.—Mumps Rubella B06.—Rubella [German measles], P35.0 Congenital rubella syndrome. If the patient has been admitted for treatment of measles, mumps or rubella, then the code for measles, mumps or rubella would be found in a primary position, except in the following cases: a. Measles, mumps or rubella complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium; in this case, one of the following codes would precede the code for measles, mumps or rubella: O35.3 Maternal care for (suspected) damage to fetus from viral disease in mother; and O98.5 Other viral diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium. b. In the case where a baby is admitted due to measles, mumps or rubella acquired after birth but within 28 days of birth (perinatal period), a code from the following categories would precede the code for measles, mumps or rubella, which would be in a secondary position: P35-P39 Infections specific to the perinatal period. 4. Data quality HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain. 5. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in national health service practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time. 6. Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in the data, i.e. the data are ungrossed. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care. | |||||||||
Infant Foods
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to parents of (a) preparing and providing formula milk as the only or main food for and (b) breastfeeding an infant from birth to six months of age. [281476]
Gillian Merron: Breast milk is the best nutrition for infants. Exclusively breastfeeding an infant from birth to six months of age involves negligible cost to parents. We have estimated the amount of formula milk required for infants from birth to six months based on energy requirements set by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.
At the current price the estimated cost for providing formula milk as a sole food for infants from birth to six months would be approximately £180 to £210. This estimate excludes the cost of additional equipment required for formula feeding such as the feeding bottles, teats and sterilisation equipment.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of permitting the purchase of infant formula with Healthy Start Scheme vouchers on (a) attitudes towards breastfeeding and (b) the number of mothers who breastfeed. [281477]
Gillian Merron: The Department has not yet undertaken an evaluation of the attitudes of Healthy Start beneficiaries towards breastfeeding, or of the extent to which they purchase infant formula milk with their Healthy Start vouchers. We are, however, planning to commission research on the impact of the scheme on beneficiary behaviour during the current financial year.
Healthy Start vouchers can be used to purchase infant formula milk because it is the only safe alternative to breast milk for infants who are not being breastfed. To exclude it from the scheme could put the babies of low income mothers who have chosen not to breastfeed at severe risk. All communication materials for the scheme advise that breast milk is the best food for all infants under six months old. Midwives and health professionals countersigning Healthy Start application forms are asked to provide advice on healthy diet, including the importance of breastfeeding and to signpost relevant services.
Learning Disability
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1223-24W, on learning disability, by what date he expects NHS bodies and councils with social services responsibilities to satisfy themselves that failures similar to those identified by the Health Service Commissioner are not ongoing; how he intends to assess progress in that regard; whether he has directed the Care Quality Commission to take the Commissioner’s report into account; what steps he plans to take to (a) implement and (b) monitor progress against the Commission’s recommendations; and from which departmental budget payments for compensation for distress will be drawn. [281110]
Phil Hope: In November 2008, David Nicholson, chief executive of the national health service, wrote to all strategic health authorities (SHAs) to seek assurance that action is being taken across the NHS organisations in their area to promote disability equality and to implement the recommendations in “Healthcare for All”, the report of Sir Jonathan Michael’s independent inquiry on access to healthcare for people with learning disabilities. SHAs have since given a clear commitment to supporting and monitoring implementation of the independent inquiry recommendations in their areas.
The delivery plan for Valuing People Now, the Government’s new three-year strategy for people with learning disabilities, sets out the systems in place to ensure improvements across all services, including better health and healthcare for people with learning, disabilities. The national Learning Disabilities Programme Board has overall responsibility for assuring delivery of Valuing People Now. Each area has a local Learning Disability Partnership Board, which will report annually through their regional board on the action they have taken.
The Valuing People Now healthcare steering group, which includes representation from the Care Quality Commission, has specific responsibility for overseeing delivery of the commitments on better healthcare for people with learning disabilities. It is also working with SHAs to ensure that the ombudsmen’s recommendations are met, including ensuring that all NHS organisations review the systems, capacity and capability they have in place to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities and report on this by March 2010.
Individual cases should be considered at a local level, following the usual routes for redress, where appropriate.
Local Involvement Networks
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available to local involvement networks in Stoke-on-Trent; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness. [281828]
Ann Keen: The allocation for 2008-09 made to the local authority for the Stoke-on-Trent local involvement network (LINk) was £0.61 million.
The legal duty to ensure LINk activities are carried on rests with local authorities. It is their responsibility to make sure that the contract with the host organisation provides that the support given to the LINk ensures the LINk is as effective as possible.
Each year LINks must produce an annual report setting out what they have achieved, the activities they have undertaken, the money they have spent on their activities and the impact they have had. Reports have to be completed by 30 June and must be made publicly available. Copies have to be sent to the Department and these will be analysed to see what, if any, additional national support would be appropriate.
Malnutrition
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1028-29W, on malnutrition, in what ways the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition's recent report has contributed to his Department's work on (a) Dignity in Care, (b) Healthy Start, (c) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives and (d) other relevant workstreams; and if he will make a statement. [279371]
Gillian Merron: The British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition report launched January 2009 has contributed to the work of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board; working to improve nutrition and Dignity in Care in adult social care settings and which in turn has underlined the importance in effective delivery of Healthy Start and the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives programme.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking in co-operation with other Government departments and agencies to reduce levels of malnutrition. [281244]
Gillian Merron: The Department and the Nutrition Summit Stakeholder Group which comprised members from other Government Departments and key agencies collaborated to produce The Nutrition Action Plan 2008. This joint plan collectively addresses nutritional care within hospitals, care homes and the community through the provision of ample and nourishing food, help with eating, modified diets and specialist tube feeding.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to NHS bodies on the diagnosis of malnutrition. [281245]
Gillian Merron: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued clinical guidelines to national health service bodies on Nutrition Support in Adults in February 2006. This covered the care of patients with malnutrition or at risk of malnutrition, both in hospital or at home. In addition, British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) has developed guidance to help hospitals and primary care trusts (PCTs) develop their infrastructure to deliver improved food and nutrition support services.
The Malnutrition Advisory Group, a standing committee of BAPEN published its second nutrition screening report on 12 May 2009. MUST is a five-step screening tool to identify adults, who are malnourished, at risk of malnutrition (undernutrition) or obese. It also includes management guidelines which can be used to develop a care plan. It is used in hospitals, community and other care settings and can be used by all care workers.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of treating diseases related to malnutrition in the last year for which figures are available. [281246]
Gillian Merron: This information is not held centrally.
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