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14 Dec 2009 : Column 735W—continued
Autism
Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with which Ministerial colleagues in each Department he has discussed the development in other Government Departments of the Government's autism strategy. [305731]
Phil Hope: The adult autism strategy spans not just health and social care but also provides a framework for services across the public sector. The Department has therefore undertaken an extensive programme of activity to ensure this work aligns with the existing work programmes of other Government Departments. Departmental officials have been working closely with colleagues across Government to assess:
the merits of issues and proposals emerging from the consultation and external reference group or if there are more viable alternative means to deliver the same goals;
the cost-effectiveness of options for action, and whether they can be integrated into existing budgets; and
the scale of the offer which each Department can bring forward to improve access to services and transform and improve the life chances of people with Autistic Spectrum Condition.
The strategy will benefit from the same cross-Government coalition which has so successfully supported the delivery of "Valuing People Now".
Nigel Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements his Department has made to involve external stakeholders in the post-consultation development of the Government's autism strategy. [305732]
Phil Hope: From the outset, the development of the autism strategy for adults has been underpinned by the two principles of co-production and inclusivity. The public consultation on the strategy was designed to ensure that people with Autistic Spectrum Condition, their families and carers could identify the barriers to access and their key priorities for change in public services.
The consultation which included regional events, on-line discussion forums and targeted engagement, aimed at hard-to-reach groups, received over 1,000 responses. These responses will set the direction of travel for the autism strategy.
The strategy will continue to benefit from the work of its external reference group comprising service users, family carers and the voluntary sector providers as well as professionals who design, develop and provide services.
There will be a further national consultation on the health and social care guidance, mandated by the legislation, which will accompany the strategy and is scheduled for publication in December 2012. We are equally committed to involving service users, carers and the voluntary sector in the production of the guidance.
The third sector, including user-led organisations, has a critical role to play as ambassadors for the strategy, supporting not just design but also delivery.
Back Pain: Waiting Lists
James Brokenshire:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was to receive a spinal injection for the treatment of back pain
conditions in each London acute hospital in the latest period for which figures are available. [305080]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: This information is not collected centrally.
Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he was first informed by Monitor of changes to its assessment of the quality of governance at Basildon and Thurrock NHS Foundation Trust. [303858]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Monitor told the Department on the 25 November 2009 that it was going to intervene at Basildon and Thurrock university hospitals NHS foundation trust. This notification followed Monitor's board meeting earlier that day, at which Monitor decided to use its statutory powers of intervention to address concerns about the trust's leadership and quality of care.
Cancer: Health Services
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria were employed by the National Cancer Action Team during the decision-making process on a regional centre for head and neck cancer services for Worcestershire; for what reasons these criteria were selected; and if he will make a statement. [307233]
Ann Keen: The National Cancer Action Team (NCAT) does not make decisions about the establishment and location of cancer services or centres.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued Improving Outcomes Guidance (IOG) in November 2004 on the organisation of health care for adults with head and neck cancers. The guidance recommends which health care professionals should be involved in treatment and care, and the types of hospital or cancer centre that are best suited to provide that health care. It is for primary care trusts as commissioners of local services to implement this guidance in conjunction with their cancer networks, strategic health authorities and other stakeholders.
The role of the NCAT is to assess whether the plans submitted by a trust or a cancer network are compliant with IOG. Support for the Three Counties Cancer Network's implementation summary was provided because it was considered to be compliant with the IOG recommendations. To see further improvement in cancer services it is essential that IOG is fully implemented nationally.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has made for the future of acute hospital cancer services in Worcestershire; [307234]
(2) what assessment he has made of the effects of transferring head and neck cancer services from Worcestershire on service provision to patients within the geographical region; and if he will make a statement. [307235]
Ann Keen: It is the responsibility of Worcestershire Primary Care Trust to plan and develop appropriate services, including those for cancer, which will meet the needs of its resident population.
No assessment has been undertaken by the Department with regard to head and neck cancer services in the Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire areas. There are no firm proposals at present. However, once these have been developed we would expect them to be subject to formal public consultation.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates the Three Counties Cancer Network received submissions on the head and neck cancer treatment submissions from (a) Worcestershire Royal Hospital and (b) Gloucestershire Royal Hospital; and if he will make a statement. [307242]
Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. The hon. Member may wish to approach the national health service organisations involved, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for this information directly.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the report of the National Cancer Action Team on head and neck cancer services in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [307243]
Ann Keen: The National Cancer Peer Review programme conducted peer reviews of cancer services in the Three Counties Cancer Network, which includes Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and published reports of the reviews in 2006 and 2008. The National Cancer Peer Review programme aims to improve care for people with cancer.
It is for primary care trusts in conjunction with their cancer networks, strategic health authorities and other stakeholders to assess the reports and take any necessary action to improve local services.
Consultants: Greater London
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacant posts there are for accident and emergency consultants at each London acute hospital trust; and what proportion these figures represent of all such posts at each such trust. [305084]
Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally, but is held by individual acute trusts.
Dementia
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) remit, (b) work programme and (c) membership is of the ministerial taskforce on dementia research; and if he will make a statement. [306046]
Phil Hope:
I announced plans to establish a new ministerial group on dementia research following the very successful ministerial summit on dementia research held in July this year. The remit of the group will be to maintain the momentum begun at the summit by developing
a new vision for the future of dementia research and advising on practicable ways to achieve that vision.
The group will cover the full spectrum of scientific research, including work on cause (including prevention), cure and care. Its detailed work programme is for the group to determine, but will be driven by three main objectives:
to devise ways to use available resources more effectively to help increase the volume and impact of high quality dementia research;
to develop a strategy for increasing public support for dementia research; and
to provide informed and authoritative advice on Government policy and wider national and international initiatives.
Membership is currently being finalised, but the group will include the key bodies with a stake in dementia research, including the main charities, the commercial sector and people living with dementia.
Departmental Electronic Equipment
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many plasma screen televisions his Department has purchased since 2001; and what the cost has been of purchasing and installing such screens in each such year. [306064]
Phil Hope: The Department has not purchased any plasma screen televisions since 2001.
Departmental Information Officers
Mr. Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 1 September 2008, Official Report, column 1688W, on Government communications, what the (a) job titles and (b) divisions are of each of the staff employed in his Department in an embedded communications role. [305027]
Phil Hope: There are currently 21 embedded communicators employed by the Department. Job titles and divisions are as follows:
Commissioning and System Management
Communications and Organisational Development Lead
Head of Communications
Medical Revalidation Communications Manager
Professional Standards Stakeholder and Communications Manager
Equality and Diversity Council Communications Manager
Head of Communications Quality Framework
Modernising Medical Careers Communications
Vascular Checks Communications Manager
Professional Communications Officer-Professional Leadership team
Communications Manager-Professional Leadership Team
Communications Manager-Healthcare Associated Infections and Cleanliness Policy Team (job share 0.6 wte)
Communications Manager-Healthcare Associated Infections and Cleanliness Policy Team (job share 0.6 wte)
Health Inequalities Unit Communications Manager
Violence Against Women and Girls Communications manager
Green Paper on Care and Support
Head of Communications Strategy for the Care and Support White Paper
Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Adviser
Communications Manager, Mental Health Division
Briefing Officer (Drugs and Alcohol Program)
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness
Senior Information Officer
Head of Immunisation Information
Publisher
Departmental Internet
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what re-designs of websites operated by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have taken place since 27 June 2007; and what the (i) cost to the public purse and (ii) date of completion of each such re-design was. [306160]
Phil Hope: The Department operates three main websites:
The Department of Health corporate website (www.dh.gov.uk)
NHS Choices (www.nhs.uk)
Connecting for Health (www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk).
Since 27 June 2007 each has undergone the following re-designs listed as follows, with the given costs and completion dates:
The Department of Health corporate website
Number of re-designs since 27 June 2007: 1
Date on which re-design was completed: 11 February 2008
Total cost: £513,000.00.
Number of re-designs since 27 June 2007: 0
Date on which re-design was completed: Not applicable
Total cost: Nil.
Number of re-designs since 27 June 2007: 1
Date on which re-design was completed: July 2009
Total cost: All work was completed using internal resource and formed part of the ongoing maintenance of the site.
Since 27 June 2007 the Department has reduced the total number of websites that it operates from 196 to 71, to meets its obligations under Transformational Government. The Department will continue to reduce this number to just two websites by the Cabinet Office deadline of July 2011.
Given the high number of websites that were in existence between 27 June 2007 and December 2009, it is not possible to provide information on re-designs for all of these as this would incur disproportionate costs.
The Department has two executive agencies that each operate their own website. These are:
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
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