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12 Oct 2009 : Column 741W—continued
In April this year, the Department also published guidance on "Managing Demand and Capacity in Health Care Organisations (Surge)". The document gives guidance on measures the NHS can take to handle the pressures it will face, including in providing paediatric care during a pandemic. A copy of the guidance has already been placed in the Library.
To further support local planning, on 10 September, a strategy for critical care services was published that in part set out how the NHS would work to substantially increase availability of paediatric intensive care beds should this be required at the peak of the pandemic. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely change in numbers of paediatric beds available between 2010 and 2012; and what assessment he has made of the likely effects of that change on winter planning during that period. [290021]
Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally.
Parkinson's Disease: Medical Treatments
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to strengthen mechanisms to improve implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guidelines on Parkinson's disease dated 2006, in light of the relevant recommendations contained in High Quality Care for All. [289565]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have no plans to strengthen mechanisms to improve the implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's clinical guidelines on Parkinson's disease. It is the responsibility of individual health professionals to ensure they comply with all existing clinical guidelines when providing health and social care.
From April 2009, the Care Quality Commission took over from the Healthcare Commission and will consider, in discussion with stakeholders including NICE, how to take account of NICE guidance as it develops its compliance criteria.
Prescriptions
Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent reports he has received of the prevalence of the automatic ordering of repeat prescriptions; and if he will take steps to end the practice. [290100]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am told that the Department has received one report of automatic ordering of repeat prescriptions by pharmacies. The terms of service of pharmacists (Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005) include a number of provisions relevant to this issue. For example, paragraph 10 (a) and (c) of the terms of service makes provision for pharmacists to ensure that appropriate advice is given to patients, in particular with regards to the request of repeatable prescriptions.
This is supported by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain's (RPSGB) professional standards and guidance for patient consent, which makes clear that
patients have a basic right to be involved in decisions about their health care and the process of obtaining consent is fundamental for patient autonomy. Obtaining consent is an on-going process and not a single event.
It is for primary care trusts to take action in relation to any breach of pharmacists' terms of service and for the RPSGB to take action in relation to any breach of professional standards.
Prescriptions: Fees and Charges
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2009, Official Report, column 486W, on prescription: fees and charges, for what reasons the projections for revenue from prescription charges do not take account of proposals to exempt from such charges those with long-term conditions; [290227]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2009, Official Report, column 486W, on prescription: fees and charges, for what reason the preparations for prescription charge income do not take into account his Department's proposals in relation to the exemption from prescription charges of people with long-term illnesses. [290311]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Forecasts for 2009-10 and 2010-11 in the departmental report 2009 (Cm 7593) take no account of the effect of the Government's decision to exempt patients with long term conditions from prescription charges because the cost and timeframe for the phasing in of the long term conditions exemption will depend on the recommendations set out in Professor Ian Gilmore's review, which is due to report in the autumn.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards ending prescription charges for all people with long-term medical conditions. [292141]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mr. Dhanda) on 14 September 2009, Official Report, column 2167W.
Prescriptions: Tamworth
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Tamworth constituency have received prescriptions without charge since such exemptions were introduced. [291466]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: This information is not held centrally.
The Department does not know the number of people for whom prescription items are dispensed because the information collected is based on the number of prescription items dispensed in the community. These data are not available at a constituency level. The latest data for England (for 2008) show that around 93 per cent. of prescription items were not charged for at the point of dispensing, either because the patient was not liable to pay a charge, or because they held a valid prescription pre-payment certificate.
Primary Care Trusts: Hertfordshire
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes to the amount of funding allocated to primary care trusts in Hertfordshire there have been in the course of 2009-10; and what such changes he anticipates in the course of 2010-11. [289410]
Phil Hope: Revenue allocations are made to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of the populations they serve. The following table provides the revenue allocations made to East and North Hertfordshire PCT and West Hertfordshire PCT for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
No changes have been made to revenue allocations during the course of 2009-10. There are no plans to change the revenue allocations for 2010-11.
| £000 | ||
| Revenue allocation | ||
| PCT | 2009-10 | 2010-11 |
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts in Hertfordshire have a financial deficit against their budget for 2009-10; and how much the deficit is in each such case. [289412]
Phil Hope: Information published in the Director General for NHS Finance, Performance and Operations report "The Quarter" show that neither East and North Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) nor West Hertfordshire PCT is forecasting a deficit in the 2009-10 financial year. The following table shows that both PCTs are forecasting a surplus.
| 2009-10 quarter 1 forecast outturn (£000) | |
The 2009-10 and 2010-11 PCT revenue allocations represent £164 billion investment in the national health service, £80 billion in 2009-10 and £84 billion in 2010-11. PCTs received an average increase in funding of 5.5 per cent. in 2009-10 and will receive an average increase in funding of 5.5 per cent. in 2010-11, a total increase in funding of £8.6 billion.
The following table provides the two year revenue allocations made to PCTs in Hertfordshire for 2009-10 and 2010-11 along with the cash and percentage increases. East and North Hertfordshire PCT will be 0.6 per cent. under target in 2010-11, West Hertfordshire PCT will be 5.3 per cent. above target in 2010-11.
| PCT | 2009-10 allocation (£000) | 2010-11 allocation (£000) | Two-year cash increase (£000) | Two-year cash increase (percentage) |
Respiratory System
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2009, Official Report, column 479W, on respiratory system, to how many patients in each age group the figures on (a) hospital and (b) admission episodes related in each case. [289570]
Phil Hope: The following table shows hospital episodes and admission episodes for diseases of the respiratory system by age group. Data have been provided for the hospitals referred to in the answer of 20 April 2009, Official Report, column 479W.
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