| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
9 Nov 2009 : Column 122W—continued
Influenza: Vaccination
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people who have been inoculated against influenza and pneumococcal disease; and if he will make a statement. [298762]
Gillian Merron: The H1N1 (swine flu) vaccination programme which started in October is supported by a comprehensive programme of communications to the general public and a major, leadership-driven campaign to encourage national health service and social care staff to take up the vaccine.
This year's seasonal flu campaign is being delivered in a highly targeted way to the usual at-risk groups in order to minimise confusion, particularly where there are differences from the swine flu priority groups (for example, over-65s who are otherwise healthy). The message "Don't underestimate seasonal flu" features in leaflets, surgery posters and pharmacy bags, on the basis that people in the seasonal flu at-risk groups are often in contact with primary care.
Pneumococcal vaccines are offered to older people and to babies and infants. The programme for older people is supported by a leaflet entitled "Age 65 or Over? Make sure you get your pneumo" that is available from surgeries.
For children, pneumococcal vaccine is offered as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme. This is supported by a range of information resources.
As part of the Operating Framework for the NHS in England, the Department has adopted a Vital Signs
indicator to monitor and increase uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine in the childhood immunisation programme.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been inoculated against influenza in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) England in each of the last five years. [298763]
Gillian Merron: Data on the number of people who have received seasonal influenza vaccine are available nationally and at the strategic health authority (SHA) and the primary care trust (PCT) levels. No data are available for individual parliamentary constituencies.
Data for the years 2005-06 to 2008-09 are given in the following table for the PCTs that have included the Ribble Valley constituency, and for Lancashire and England.
The data are presented for (i) patients over 65 years of age (table 1) and (ii) for patients under 65 years of age in clinical at risk groups (table 2), the total number of eligible people that received vaccine and the percentage uptake of vaccine by those eligible by the end of the influenza season in each year.
| Table 1: Vaccination percentage uptake among the 65 years of age and over | |||
| 65 years and over | |||
| Survey year | PCT name | Number vaccinated | Vaccine uptake (percentage) |
Uptake data for this year's seasonal and swine flu vaccination programmes are not yet available.
Mental Health Services
Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) patient safety and (b) waiting times of proposals to differentiate standards of proficiency for counselling and psychotherapy; and if he will make a statement. [298363]
Ann Keen: The Government have not yet received proposals for the regulation of psychotherapists and counsellors from the Health Professions Council (HPC). The Government will give careful consideration to the HPC's recommendations, including impact assessments, once these have been presented to the Secretary of State.
Mental Health Services: Waiting Lists
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged (a) under 18 years and (b) 18 years or over are on waiting lists to receive treatment for a mental health problem in the Milton Keynes area. [297811]
Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Muscular Dystrophy: South East
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care advisers are available for muscular dystrophy patients within the area covered by the South East and Coastal Regional Health Authority. [296723]
Ann Keen: The information requested is not collected centrally. However, the Department is aware of variations in service provision for those living with muscular dystrophy. We have therefore asked the National Commissioning team to work with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to run a workshop on best practice commissioning.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision has been made for the (a) respiratory care and (b) cardiac screening of muscular dystrophy patients living within the area covered by the South East and Coastal Regional Health Authority; and how much funding for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) each of the previous five years was allocated to these services. [296728]
Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of health professionals to use their clinical judgment, working with patients and their families, to decide on the most appropriate health care for those living with muscular dystrophy (MD). Local health bodies have the responsibility to commission appropriate levels of health care to meet the needs of all their patients, including those with MD. Funding is not allocated specifically for MD.
However, the Department is aware of variations in service provision for those living with muscular dystrophy. We have therefore asked the national commissioning team to work with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to run a workshop on best practice commissioning.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with what frequency a muscular dystrophy patient living within the area covered by the South East and Coastal Regional Health Authority should receive specialist physiotherapy. [296729]
Ann Keen: There is no recommended level of physiotherapy services-patients living with muscular dystrophy will have differing needs, and services should be provided based on an individual assessment of a patient's needs.
However, the Department is aware of variations in service provision for those living with muscular dystrophy. We have therefore asked the national commissioning team to work with the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign to run a workshop on best practice commissioning.
National Assistance Act 1948
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adults have received support under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948 in each year since 1997. [298302]
Phil Hope: Section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948 empowers local authorities to support people in residential and nursing care. Data on the number of adults-aged 18 and over-in local authority supported registered residential and nursing care is collected and published by the NHS Information Centre for health and social care via the Supported Residents (SRI) return.
Table 1 shows the numbers of adults-aged 18 and over-in local authority funded residential and nursing care, including numbers in adult placements/Shared Lives, as at 31 March for the years 1997 to 2005 in England.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |