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2 Feb 2010 : Column 219W—continued
Welfare Tax Credits: Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints have been made against the Tax Credits Office by residents in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last five years. [314293]
Mr. Timms: The information requested is not available at local authority level.
Information about the number of complaints handled by the different HM Revenue and Customs business areas, including tax credits, is broken down in the annexes of the departmental reports available at:
Numbers of new complaints on tax credits from April to December 2009-10 are more than 40 per cent. lower compared to the same period in 2008-09.
Health
Arthritis: Drugs
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the Prime Minister's press conference of 25 January 2010, what steps he plans to take to ensure full investigation of RoActemra. [314628]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is developing technology appraisal guidance on the use of RoActemra for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NICE'S technology appraisal guidance is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and is developed through a robust process which includes public consultation.
Autism: Health Services
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the Adult Autism Strategy. [314556]
Phil Hope: The legislation mandates a timeframe for the publication of the strategy by 1 April 2010.
We will be publishing the strategy in advance of this date.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps will be taken to ensure that the Adult Autism Strategy meets the criteria and recommendations contained in the National Audit Office's report on Supporting people with autism through adulthood, HC (2008-09) 556; and if he will make a statement; [314571]
(2) if he will publish the Adult Autism Strategy required under the Autism Act 2009 in April 2010; and if he will issue all statutory guidance to local authorities and health bodies required by the Act by December 2010. [314572]
Phil Hope: The Government have made clear that we will publish the Adult Autism Strategy before April 2010 and will consult on, and publish before end December 2010, the guidance required under the Autism Act 2009.
In developing this strategy, the Government have taken account of the findings and recommendations set out in the National Audit Office (NAO) as well as the subsequent Report of the Public Accounts Committee. Officials have met with representatives of the NAO. We will address the NAO's recommendations through the strategy, the accompanying delivery plan and guidance.
Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of (a) training and (b) qualifications will be required by professionals working with adults with autism in the forthcoming Adult Autism Strategy. [314737]
Phil Hope: The provision of personalised services for adults with autism will depend on the development of increased awareness and understanding of autism across all public services.
We are committing to working with professional bodies, the Royal Colleges and other organisations to ensure that effective training is developed and delivered to achieve that aim.
Cancer
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the survival rate was of cancer patients aged (a) under 75 years old and (b) 75 years and older, of each cancer type (i) nationally, (ii) in each region and (iii) in each primary care trust in London in each of the last five years. [313687]
Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated 28 January 2010:
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the survival rates of cancer patients were aged (a) under 75 years old and (b) 75 years and older, broken down by cancer type (i) nationally, (ii) in each region and (iii) in each primary care trust within London in each of the last five years [313687].
ONS calculates one- and five-year cancer survival rates for men and women aged 15-99, but not for specific age-groups.
The latest available one and five-year survival rates for (i) England, for 21 common cancers for patients diagnosed in 2001-2006 and followed up to the end of 2007, are available on the National Statistics website at:
Comparable survival rates for England for each preceding five year period back to 1998-2001 and followed up to 2003 can also be downloaded from this link.
The latest one- and five-year survival rates for eight common cancers by (ii) government office region and strategic health authority, for patients diagnosed in 1997-1999 and followed up to the end of 2004, are available on the National Statistics website at:
Comparable survival rates by government office region and strategic health authority for each preceding five year period back to 1994-1996 and followed up to 2001 can also be downloaded from this link.
ONS does not produce cancer survival rates for (iii) primary care trusts. However, one-year survival figures for three cancers (breast, colorectal and lung) by primary care organisation, have recently been published by the Department of Health in the second annual report of the Cancer Reform Strategy. The report can be downloaded from this link.
Chapel Allerton Hospital: Manpower
Mr. Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed at Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2009. [314651]
Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the number of doctors and qualified nursing staff employed in the Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust for the dates shown.
| NHS Hospital a nd Community Health Service s (HCHS) doctors and qualified nursing staff in the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as at 30 September each year | ||
| Headcount | ||
| 1997 | 2008 | |
| Notes: 1. In 1998 St James's and Seacroft University Hospital NHS Trust and United Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust merged to form Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Figures for 1997 are an aggregate of these predecessor organisations. 2. Data quality: Work force statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses. Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census The Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census | ||
Chorley
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will set out, with statistical information as closely related to Chorley constituency as possible, the effect on that constituency of the policies of his Department since 1997. [314234]
Ann Keen: The Government have put in place a programme of national health service investment and reform since 1997 to improve service delivery in all parts of the United Kingdom. Some 93 per cent. of people nationally now rate the NHS as good or excellent. The NHS Constitution contains 25 rights and 14 pledges for patients and the public including new rights to be treated within 18 weeks, or be seen by a cancer specialist within two weeks and a NHS Health Check every five years for those aged 40-74 years.
There is significant evidence that these policies have yielded considerable benefits for the Chorley constituency. For example:
Figures for November 2009 show that in Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT):
94 per cent, of patients whose treatment involved admission to hospital started their treatment within 18 weeks.
97 per cent, of patients whose treatment did not involve admission to hospital started their treatment within 18 weeks.
In September 2009, at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 98.6 per cent of patients spent less than four hours in accident and emergency from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge.
Between September 2002 and September 2008, the number of consultants at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has increased from 167 to 238. Between September 2002 and September 2008 the estimated number of nurses has increased from 1,915 to 2,161.
Between March 2008 and March 2009, the number of NHS dentists within the Central Lancashire PCT has increased from 222 to 252.
93.0 per cent, of urgent general practitioner (GP) referrals to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with suspected cancer are seen by a specialist within two weeks of the referral.
Central Lancashire PCT opened its GP-led health centre on 1 December 2009 at the Ormskirk and District General Hospital. The £3 million state-of-the-art health centre will also provide a GP out-of-hours service and NHS dental services. The centre will offer longer opening hours, meaning that any member of the public will be able to see a GP or nurse between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year. It also provides a drop-in advice and treatment for minor injuries and ailments every day of the week from 8am to 10pm.
A publicly funded £40 million maternity and gynaecological unit opened at the Royal Preston Hospital in 2004. In addition, a new £2 million assessment and treatment service became operational at the Chorley and South Ribble Hospital in April 2008. The service enables patients who have to be referred to hospital to have their assessment, diagnosis, and where possible treatment at a one-stop shop to speed up their care.
Although statistical information is not available at a local level, Chorley will have also benefited from national policies in other areas. For example:
Since 1997, gross current expenditure on personal social services has increased by around 70 per cent. in real terms, with around 105,000 households now receiving intensive home care and 3,076 new extra care housing units-exceeding the original target of 1,500 new extra care units.
Other strategies currently being implemented are:
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Personal Care at Home Bill will guarantee free personal care for 280,000 people with the highest needs and help around 130,000 people who need home care for the first time to regain their independence.
Shaping the Future of Care Together Green Paper, published in July 2009, sets out a vision of a National Care Service for all adults in England that is fair, simple and affordable. The Department has consulted widely on this reform and is currently analysing the responses, which will feed into a White Paper later this year.
The National Carer's Strategy-carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities-was launched in 2008.
The first National Dementia Strategy was published in February 2009.
Valuing People Now-a three year strategy for people with learning disabilities-was published in January 2009.
New Horizons: A Shared Vision for Mental Health was launched in December 2009 to maintain improvements in mental health services, combined with a new cross-Government approach to promoting public mental health.
Since 1998, there are now 2.4 million fewer smokers in England as a result of the Government's comprehensive tobacco control strategy, which has a measurable impact on reducing smoking prevalence.
Child obesity levels are reducing due to the efforts of families across England, supported by the Government's obesity strategy. In 2008, 13.9 per cent. of children (aged two to 10) in England were classified as obese, compared with 17.3 per cent. in 2005.
Overall, life expectancy at birth for men has increased from 74.5 years (1995-1997 data) to 77.7 years (2006-08 data) while for women, life expectancy at birth has increased from 79.6 years (1995-97 data) to 81.9 years (2006-08 data).
Dementia: Drugs
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what progress his Department has made on agreeing explicit goals for the size and speed of the reduction of the use of antipsychotic medication and for the improvement in the use of such drugs where needed; and whether any such goals have been agreed; [314509]
(2) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what progress has been made on developing an audit to generate data on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia; [314510]
(3) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what the role of the National Clinical Director for Dementia will be; what the salary is for that post; and what objectives have been set for that post; [314511]
(4) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what steps he has taken to make the reduction of the use of antipsychotic drugs for people with dementia and the assurance of good practice a clinical governance priority across the NHS; [314512]
(5) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what mechanisms he has put in place to facilitate liaison between specialist older people's mental health services and general practitioners to address the issue of people with dementia in their own homes who are on antipsychotic medication; [314646]
(6) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what steps he has taken to ensure that the improving access to psychological therapies programme delivers therapies to people with dementia and their carers; [314647]
(7) with reference to the report for the Minister of State with responsibility for care services, the hon. Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on the use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia, what steps his Department has taken to enable the Care Quality Commission to implement rates of prescription of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia; [314648]
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