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12 Nov 2009 : Column 726W—continued
Muscular Dystrophy
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include in the forthcoming Health White Paper adoption of the Standards of Care for People Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy recently agreed internationally; and if he will make it his policy that new genomic medicines for Duchenne are trialled and monitored via a network of Duchenne centres of excellence. [291769]
Ann Keen: Work on a formal response to the recommendations in the report of the Lords Science and Technology select committee inquiry into genomic medicine will be published later in the year.
It is for clinicians to locally determine the appropriate standards of care in line with published guidelines. However, the clinical champions network that is being established will be able to promote standards of care.
Arrangements for clinical trials of new therapies for the treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy are primarily the responsibility of the biomedical and pharmaceutical companies concerned. The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network provides a health service infrastructure to support clinical trials and other well-designed studies funded by both commercial and non-commercial organisations.
The Government have a proud record of encouraging and supporting the development of genetic technologies, both in research and their application in the wider national health service. Through focusing on patient-centred provision of effective health care, the Department will continue to work closely with, patients, stakeholders and partners to achieve this aim.
NHS Counter Fraud Service
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the budget of the NHS Counter Fraud Service was in each of the last five financial years; [298963]
(2) how many staff were assigned to the NHS Counter Fraud Service in each of the last five financial years; [298964]
(3) how much has been recovered by the NHS Counter Fraud Service in each of the last five years; [298965]
(4) how many cases were investigated by the NHS Counter Fraud Service in each of the last five years; [298966]
(5) how many people were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted of charges relating to fraud against the NHS in each of the last five years. [298967]
Ann Keen: The information is shown in the following table.
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
| (1 )This figure corrects the information given in the written answer to the hon. Member for North Norfolk on 2 April 2008, Official Report, column 1124W. | |||||
NHS: Computer Software
Mr. Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the average number of hours per week that users of the Lorenzo software system are logged in at (a) Five Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust, (b) Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (c) University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, (d) Hereford Hospitals Trust and (e) South Birmingham Primary Care Trust. [299168]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
NHS: Drugs
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 735W, on "NHS: drugs", about which pharmaceutical products his Department has received reports of supply problems; and what the nature is of each supply problem reported to his Department. [295614]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Shortages occur for a number of reasons, including manufacturing or regulatory problems, and at any one time the Department will be aware of a number of shortages. We have received reports about a number of medicines that are reportedly subject to export due to the decline in the value of the £ sterling. We also receive reports of medicines subject to supply problems that may be attributed to such exports. The drugs affected by shortages change with time. Any list of such drugs will not be an accurate or complete list.
NHS: Private Sector
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS providers which had not provided assurance to the NHS Chief Executive by 30 September 2009 that the NHS guidance of 23 March 2009 on NHS patients who wish to pay for additional private care was being followed, as requested in the NHS Chief Executive's letter of 30 July 2009, gateway reference 12199; if he will place in the Library a copy of all responses received to the Chief Executive's letter; and if he will make a statement. [297397]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: All strategic health authorities (SHAs) have submitted initial responses to the letter of 30 July 2009 from Lyn Simpson, the director of NHS Operations, gateway reference 12199. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library. All SHAs have assurance processes under way to ensure that the issues outlined in the letter are addressed. The Department is working with SHAs to discuss the information received and the progress of action plans so far.
In the new year, when these discussions will have concluded, I will also place responses for each individual SHA in the Library.
NHS: Standards
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions the National Quality Board has met to discuss the discontinuance of NHS targets in each of the last six months; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the relevant minutes of each such meeting. [299685]
Ann Keen: The National Quality Board met for the first time in March 2009. There have been three subsequent meetings. The National Quality Board has not discussed the removal of NHS targets at any of the meetings. The minutes of all board meetings are published on the Department of Health's website at:
Nutrition
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government is taking to ensure that food and drink companies are able to promote the nutritional benefits of their products after the 19 January 2010 deadline for compliance with the nutrition claims annex under the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation EC 1924/2006. [297970]
Gillian Merron: The nutrition claims annex already lists a range of nutrition claims such as 'low saturated fat', 'low salt', 'high fibre' that may be made on food products meeting the associated criteria. The European Commission has circulated draft proposals which would amend some of the existing claims and add new claims (for example 'no added salt' and 'now contains X % less salt/fat/saturated fat') to the list.
With the 19 January deadline in mind, the Commission's aim is that these amendments to the annex should be agreed as soon as possible. The Food Standards Agency, on behalf of the Government, is actively engaged in discussing these amendments with other European Union member states.
Nutrition: Carers
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) information and (b) guidance his Department produces to carers on supporting the nutritional needs of those for whom they care. [299098]
Phil Hope: A wide range of information and guidance can also be accessed through the NHS Choices information service, www.nhs.uk, which includes a specific section for carers. 'Carers Direct' provides carers with information that allows them to get the services and support they need, including advice on healthy eating. The site also includes links to interactive tools on healthy eating self-assessments for all lifestyles.
The Department has also published the "Nutrition Action Plan: Improving Nutritional Care", on 30 October 2007. This outlines how nutritional care and hydration can be improved and suggests five key priority areas through which managers and staff working in health and social care can address this. The key priorities for action are to:
raise awareness of the link between nutrition and good health;
ensure that accessible guidance is available across all sectors;
encourage nutritional screening for all people using health and social care services;
encourage provision and access to relevant training on the importance of nutrition for good health; and
clarify standards and strengthen inspection and regulation.
This information is contained in the "Nutrition Action Plan: Improving Nutritional Care", which has been placed in the Library.
Oesophagus Cancer
Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) oncologists and (b) trainee oncologists specialising in oesophageal cancer there are in each region. [298160]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.
Specialist oesophageal cancer oncologists are not separately identified within the NHS workforce census.
Out of Area Treatment: Wales
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients who live in England have received medical (a) treatment and (b) consultation in Wales in each year since 1997. [299850]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: This information is not held in the Department.
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients who live in Wales have received medical (a) treatment and (b) consultation in England in each year since 1997. [299875]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation because the information will take time to collate. I will write to the hon. Member when I have the information.
Palliative Care: Finance
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 29 October 2009, Official Report, column 584W, on palliative care: finance, how the £40 million has been disbursed; and how much each hospice received. [299576]
Phil Hope: The 2010-11 £40 million capital budget for hospices has not yet been disbursed. Hospices are currently preparing applications for funding from the budget. The deadline for applications to Help the Hospices, which is managing the programme on behalf of the Department of Health, is, 8 January 2010. Funding will be disbursed in 2010-11 and information on which hospices have received funding will be published in due course.
Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spent on healthcare in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [300119]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The information requested is a matter for Peterborough and Stamford hospitals NHS foundation trust. We have written to Mr. Nigel Hards, chair of Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, informing him of the hon. Gentleman's inquiries. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished consultant episodes there were in Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [300120]
Phil Hope: The following table shows a count of finished consultant episodes(1) at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 2001-02 to 2008-09.(2)
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