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9 Mar 2010 : Column 185W—continued
Health
Alcoholic Drinks: Health Education
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on marketing and advertising to encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol in each of the last five years. [321157]
Phil Hope: The alcohol harm reduction campaign began in 2006-07 and was run in conjunction with the Home Office until the end of financial year 2008-09. The table shows the Department's advertising expenditure in these years and does not include spending undertaken by the Home Office.
The figure for the current financial year (2009-10) is provisional until records are fully audited at the end of the financial year.
| Financial year | Expenditure (£) |
The figures do not include recruitment or classified advertising costs. Advertising spend is defined as covering only media spend (inclusive of agency commissions but excluding production costs, Central Office of Information commission and VAT). All figures exclude advertising
rebates and audit adjustments and therefore may differ from Central Office of Information official turnover figures.
The advertising campaign is supported by activity in the national health service, for example, the distribution of information materials about the health harms associated with alcohol consumption and practical advice for people considering drinking less. However, figures on expenditure within the NHS are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Aortic Aneurysm: Screening
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the merits of bringing forward the timetable for full implementation of the NHS abdominal aortic screening programme, with particular reference to (a) feasibility, (b) cost and (c) the likely effects on mortality rates of the early implementation of that programme. [320805]
Ann Keen: Immediate implementation was considered as an option and a full analysis of the cost and mortality rates of this approach was made and compared to the analysis of phased implementation. However in common with all other national screening programmes, this programme needs to have a managed national roll-out to realise the benefits of the combination of screening to safe and effective standards. Early implementation would not have allowed sufficient time to reorganise treatment services in order to minimise mortality and morbidity in patients having planned surgery.
Autism: Drugs
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has issued to clinicians on the use of chlorpromazine hydrochloride for the treatment of patients diagnosed with autism; [321393]
(2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) reviewed on the potential risks to health and other side effects of chlorpromazine hydrochloride prescribed for the treatment of people diagnosed with autism in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement; [321394]
(3) how many fatalities of people diagnosed with autism associated with the use of chlorpromazine hydrochloride and other anti-psychotic medication there were in the last 10 years.; [321395]
(4) what guidelines his Department has issued on medication prescribed for the treatment of people diagnosed with autism; and what guidelines are in force on the use of anti-psychotic medication for people with autistic spectrum disorders. [321396]
Mr. Mike O'Brien:
Since the marketing of chlorpromazine, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in conjunction with its independent scientific advisory committee, the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and its predecessors, has kept the safety of chlorpromazine and other anti-psychotics under close review. Prescribing guidance has been updated to reflect new safety data and the MHRA has also informed health care professionals and patients of the
updated prescribing guidance through the regular drug safety bulletin, "Drug Safety Update", and information posted on the MHRA website.
Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the MHRA and CHM through the Yellow Card Scheme. During the time period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009, the MHRA has received a total of 18 spontaneous suspected fatal ADR reports associated with chlorpromazine in the United Kingdom. None of these cases describe an indication for use of autism or have provided a medical history of the patient having autism. During this 10 year period a total of 39 fatal reports for all anti-psychotics listed the indication as 'learning disorder/disability' or 'behavioural disorder' or had a medical history of autism, asperger's disorder, learning disability or behavioural disorder.
The use of medication such as anti-psychotic drugs for behaviour problems is an issue that will most likely be addressed in the clinical guidelines for autistic spectrum disorders in adults and children currently being developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE has not yet indicated when it expects this guidance to be issued to be available to the national health service.
Autism: Health Services
Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that the national autism strategy provides guidance on reasonable adjustments that public service providers can make to support adults with autism. [320662]
Phil Hope: The Government's strategy for adults with autism in England, 'Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives', was published on 3 March 2010 and is available at:
Copies have been placed in the Library.
The strategy reiterates the requirement under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 for services to make reasonable adjustments for disabled adults-this includes adults with autism. Within the strategy we have committed to delivering guidance to indicate the kinds of adjustments that might be usefully made, from physical adjustments to premises to improving the ways those delivering services communicate with adults with autism.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has also underlined its commitment to making adjustments for adults with autism using Jobcentre Plus services. As well as making any required reasonable adjustments-such as making use of the most suitable environment or premises for conducting work focused interviews-DWP will also ensure Jobcentre Plus advisers are aware of both the need to make suitable adjustments for adults with autism and of the kinds of adjustments that may be beneficial.
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent staff of each grade are employed by his Department to assist special advisers. [321137]
Phil Hope: Two full-time executive officers assist the special advisers.
Departmental Paper
Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) suppliers and (b) brands of (i) paper and (ii) paper products his Department uses; and what his Department's policy is on the procurement of those materials. [320029]
Phil Hope: Paper purchased by the Department is purchased through the Department's office supplies contract with Office Depot or through the Central Office of Information (COI) for print and published material. The majority of general printing and copying paper used by the Department is Evolve Everyday or Niceday, 80 gsm, in A3/4/5 sizes. Other paper purchased is from Office Depot or Niceday Environmental (Forest Stewardship Council-certified) range.
All of the Department's print and publishing is through COI and paper is purchased from companies on the COI EU tendered Framework. Various papers are purchased with 50-100 per cent. recycled content. On rare occasions when viable recycled products are not available other FSC or programme for the endorsement of forest certification schemes-approved virgin fibre products may be purchased.
Paper products purchased by the Department's cleaning contractor, Resource FM, and consist of toilet paper and paper towels. All toilet paper is Scott Performance 4476, which has a 100 per cent. recycled content. All paper towels purchased by the Department are Wypall Centre Feed, which has 100 per cent. recycled content.
Swantex paper napkins are provided by the Department's catering contractor, Quadrant Catering Ltd. These are either 100 per cent, recycled content or 10-40 per cent. part recycled and dyed using food dyes.
The Department is committed to only purchasing paper and paper products that conform to the Government's "Buy Sustainable-Quick Wins" minimum environmental specifications.
General Practitioners: Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people registered with general practitioners in the London borough of Bexley in each year since 1997. [321061]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Information is not available in the format requested. Following is the number of general practitioner (GP)-registered patients in Bexley Care Trust.
| Bexley Care Trust | Number |
| Notes: 1. It is not possible to provide comparable work force data for this organisation prior to the formation of the primary care trust in 2002. 2. Figures provided show numbers of patients registered with a GP as at 30 September each year. Data on patient transactions or newly registered patients are not available on the annual GP Census. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics | |
General Practitioners: Fees and Charges
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the levels of charges made by some general practitioners to their patients for a letter in support of applications for disability living allowance and attendance allowance; if he will bring forward proposals to reimburse people who pay such charges; and if he will make a statement. [321217]
Under the terms of their contract with their primary care trust, general practitioners (GPs) are required to issue certain medical certificates, free of charge, which are reasonably required in support of claims for benefits and allowances-such as disability living allowance and attendance allowance. Where patients choose to provide medical information in support of their claim, that is not a mandatory part of the application, the GP may choose to charge a fee.
If further medical evidence is required by the Department of Work and Pensions, they will contact the patient's GP and pay any fees.
Health Services: Guernsey
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of (a) emergency and (b) non-emergency treatment of people from Guernsey in each of the last five years. [321261]
Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 8 March 2010, Official Report, columns 58-60W.
Home Care Services: Finance
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2009, Official Report, column 296W, on social services: finance, which of his Department's communication and advertising budgets will be affected by the changes to planned expenditure to cover funding of the provisions of the Personal Care at Home Bill; and how much will be taken from each budget. [318888]
Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) on 8 December 2009, Official Report, column 296W.
Hospitals: Consultants
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to NHS hospitals on daily hours of consultant cover in (a) maternity units, (b) paediatric assessment units and (c) accident and emergency departments. [321397]
Ann Keen: The medical Royal Colleges advise on clinical standards. It is for local national health service organisations to determine the medical skill mix they require to provide safe and high quality clinical care.
Hospitals: Infectious Diseases
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of infection per (a) 1,000 hospital bed days and (b) 1,000 patients admitted to hospital there were in 2005. [320828]
Ann Keen: Information on all infections is not collected centrally. However, data on the main infections covered by mandatory surveillance, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) blood stream infections and Clostridium difficile infections, are given in the following table.
| MRSA( 1) | Clostridium difficile (65 years or older)( 2) | |
| (1) Data on MRSA cases, bed days (KH03) and admissions are for the 2005-06 financial year. (2) Based on 2005 calendar year. Prior to April 2007, C. difficile data were only collected for those aged 65 and over. Bed days are from Hospital Episode Statistics. The number of C. difficile cases and rates were based on data from 171 of 173 trusts, as complete data are not available for two trusts. | ||
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department collects on numbers of (a) hospital-acquired infections and (b) patients entering hospitals with infections. [320829]
Ann Keen: The mandatory surveillance system collects numbers of reports for the following pathogens that are usually considered healthcare associated infections and surgical procedures:
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias;
Clostridium difficile infections (CDI);
glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE) bacteraemias; and
selected orthopaedic surgical site infections (SSIs).
It is not easy to ascertain where an infection has been acquired and these datasets include both infections acquired in hospital and in other settings. However, the MRSA and CDI system now allows for indirect identification of cases that may have been acquired within the reporting trust by calculating the elapsed time between a patient's admission date and specimen date.
While MRSA bacteraemias and CDI present on admission can be identified, a proportion of these are likely to be associated with a previous hospital admission.
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