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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]


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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
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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)

2005-06

West Lancashire PCT

14,123

77.8

Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic HA

256,393

75.5

England total

6,122,744

75.3

2006-07

Central Lancashire PCT

54,882

74.9

East Lancashire PCT

41,585

73.9

North Lancashire PCT

51,695

76.4

Total of above PCTs

148,162

75.1

England total

5,779,145

73.9

2007-08

Central Lancashire PCT

53,990

75.1

East Lancashire PCT

43,296

72.4

North Lancashire PCT

52,028

76

Total of above PCTs

149,314

74.6

England total

5,934,370.0

73.5

2008-09

Central Lancashire PCT

55,263

75

East Lancashire PCT

44,565

73.4

North Lancashire PCT

52,911

76.4

Total of above PCTs

152,739

75.0

England total

6,130,532

74



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Table 2: Vaccination percentage uptake among the under 65 years of age in clinical risk
Under 65 years and at risk( 1)
Survey year PCT name Number vaccinated Vaccine uptake (percentage)

2005-06

West Lancashire PCT

6,140

66.9

Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic HA

112,922

59.2

England total

1,443,893

48.0

2006-07

Central Lancashire PCT

21,454

45.1

East Lancashire PCT

16,783

45.8

North Lancashire PCT

13,698

45.9

Total of above PCTs

51,935

45.5

England total

1,770,840

42.1

2007-08

Central Lancashire PCT

20,424

47.4

East Lancashire PCT

17,908

51.9

North Lancashire PCT

15,317

48.6

Total of above PCTs

53,649

49.2

England total

1,977,509

45.3

2008-09

Central Lancashire PCT

22,008

52.8

East Lancashire PCT

19,025

52.9

North Lancashire PCT

16,079

50.9

Total of above PCTs

57,112

52.3

England total

92,216

52.2

(1 )Data for individuals aged under 65 years and in a risk group has only been collated since the 2005-06 season.
Source:
Influenza Immunisation Uptake Monitoring Programme HPA/DH, ImmForm reporting website.

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]


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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.


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Table 1: Total( 1) number of clients aged 18 and over in receipt of local authority funded residential or nursing care as at 31 March, England
Rounded number
Total of all supported residents, England

1997

242,100

1998

255,500

1999

260,700

2000

265,400

2001

261,800

2002

264,800

2003(2)

284,100

2004(2, 3)

278,000

2005(2, 3)

266,200

Notes:
(1) Includes people in voluntary and private registered residential, general and mental health nursing homes, adults in un-staffed homes and adult placements/Shared Lives.
(2) Includes clients formerly in receipt of preserved rights.
(3) Includes Boyd loophole residents.
Source:
SRI Return, table S1.

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