National Commissioning Board

Mr Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to enable the expertise of allied health professionals to be available to the National Commissioning Board. [57969]

8 Jun 2011 : Column 358W

Mr Simon Burns: As part of the NHS listening exercise, we are considering clinical input to commissioning at all levels, including the NHS Commissioning Board. Both the report of the Future Forum and the Government response will be published in due course.

Neuromuscular Services

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent progress has been made by the NHS South East Coast Specialised Commissioning Group in reviewing neuromuscular services in the region; and if he will make a statement. [57513]

Paul Burstow: This is a matter for the national health service locally. We have been advised by the South East Coast strategic health authority that the South East Coast Specialised Commissioning Group (SECSCG), which commissions neuromuscular services on behalf of the region, has now completed its review. The review's findings have been published in a report entitled “Better Co-ordination; Better Care—A review of services for people with Neuromuscular Conditions in the South East Coast” which is available on the SECSCG's website at:

www.secscg.nhs.uk/home/news

Following the review, initiatives are underway throughout the South East Coast region to implement its recommendations. These include programmes to improve access to, and join up, services for people with neuromuscular disease. Work is also underway to provide a care pathway coordinator post to provide advice and information for patients and carers, by September 2011.

NHS: Negligence

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Litigation Authority paid (a) on average to successful claimants (i) in total and (ii) for medical reports in cases of clinical negligence in each of the last three years and (b) on average in respect of its own costs (A) in total and (B) in respect of medical reports in each such year. [58019]

Mr Simon Burns: The information to show how much the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA) paid on average to successful claimants in total in cases of clinical negligence in each of the last three years and on average in respect of its own costs in total is in the following table.

Number of clinical negligence claims closed with damages 2008-09 to 2010-11
£
Year of closure Damages paid Average damages Defence costs paid Average defence costs Clamant costs paid Average claimant costs

2008-09

278,038,411

93,114

35,916,879

12,028

95,911,592

32,120

2009-10

267,332,564

71,137

38,491,431

10,243

112,528,769

29,944

2010-11

499,478,033

94,976

59,664,874

11,345

192,481,953

36,600

Total

1,044,849,007

87,049

134,073,184

11,170

400,922,313

33,402

Number of clinical negligence claims settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11
£
Year of settlement Total damages Average damages Defence costs paid Average defence costs Clamant costs paid Average claimant costs

2008-09

552,136,757

4,214,784

17,207,984

131,359

38,403,070

293,153

2009-10

504,736,479

3,943,254

13,712,666

107,130

34,043,228

265,963

2010-11

547,337,006

4,210,285

12,830,840

98,699

21,748,248

167,294

8 Jun 2011 : Column 359W

8 Jun 2011 : Column 360W

Total

1,604,210,242

4,123,934

43,751,490

112,472

94,194,546

242,145

Notes: 1. Periodical payment orders (PPOs) that have ongoing payments have been included separately and the figure provided is as though they were settled on a lump sum basis. 2. Some of the defence costs and claimant costs not have been finalised yet and so the costs, payment figures and average costs payment figures may be understated. 3. It is not possible to show specific costs for medical records as the NHSLA does not record costs in this level of detail. Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority (May 2011)

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many settled claims funded by legal aid and brought against the NHS Litigation Authority were brought on behalf of a minor in each of the last three years; what proportion of all legally-aided claims that figure represents in each such year; and how much was paid out (a) in total and (b) on average in each such year. [58020]

Mr Simon Burns: The information to show how many settled claims funded by legal aid and brought against the NHS Litigation Authority that were brought on behalf of a minor in each of the last three years is in the following tables:

Number of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid closed 2008-09 to 2010-11
  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor as % of all legally aided claims
Year of closure Settled nil damages Settled with damages Total Settled nil damages Settled with damages Total Settled nil damages Settled with damages Total

2008-09

244

313

557

598

994

1,592

41

31

35

2009-10

251

349

600

573

1,068

1,641

44

33

37

2010-11

264

454

718

629

1,373

2,002

42

33

36

Total

759

1416

1,875

1,800

3,435

5,235

42

32

36

Number of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid and settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11
Year of settlement Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor as % of all legally aided claims

2008-09

104

126

83

2009-10

100

107

93

2010-11

101

116

87

Total

305

349

87

Total value of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid closed 2008-09 to 2010-11
  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims
Year of closure Number settled with damages Total payments (damages + costs) (£) Average total payments (£) Number settled with damages Total payments (damages + costs) (£) Average total payments (£)

2008-09

313

144,984,359

463,209

994

242,190,356

243,652

2009-10

349

106,465,010

305,057

1,068

196,185,439

183,694

2010-11

454

193,153,391

425,448

1,373

376,956,348

274,549

Total

1,116

444,602,760

398,390

3,435

815,332,143

237,360

Total value of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid and settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11
  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims
Year of settlement Number of claims Total damages + costs paid (£) Average total damages + costs paid (£) Number of claims Total damages + costs paid (£) Average total damages + costs paid (£)

2008-09

104

521,565,382

5,015,052

126

579,971,849

4,602,951

2009-10

100

475,373,847

4,753,738

107

492,964,405

4,607,144

2010-11

101

507,527,119

5,025,021

116

547,988,200

4,724,036

8 Jun 2011 : Column 361W

8 Jun 2011 : Column 362W

Total

305

1,504,466,348

4,932,677

349

1,620,924,454

4,644,483

Note: For periodical payment orders (PPOs) total damages have been added as if the claim had settled on a lump sum basis to the actual costs payments. Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority (May 2011)

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS Litigation Authority paid in damages to successful claimants in each of the last three years; and how many and what proportion of cases in which the authority paid damages to claimants in each such year were settled or lost (a) at trial and (b) within six weeks of trial. [58021]

Mr Simon Burns: The information to show how much the NHS Litigation Authority paid in damages to successful claimants in each of the last three years is in the following tables.

Number of clinical negligence claims closed with damages 2008-09 to 2010-11
Year of closure Number of claims Damages paid (£)

2008-09

2,986

278,038,411

2009-10

3,758

267,332,564

2010-11

5,259

499,478,033

Total

12,003

1,044,849,007

Number of clinical negligence claims settled as periodical payments 2008-09 to 2010-11
Year of settlement Number of claims Total d amages(£ )

2008-09

131

552,136,757

2009-10

128

504,736,479

2010-11

130

547,337,006

Total

389

1,604,210,242

Notes: 1. Data in relation to how many and what proportion of cases in which the authority paid damages to claimants in each year were settled or lost (a) at trial and (b) within six weeks of trial can be provided only at disproportionate cost. 2. Data on damages pertaining to date of settlement can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Source: NHS Litigation Authority May 2011

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of (a) all legally aided claims and (b) all claims brought by minors were made to the NHS Litigation Authority on behalf of a minor and funded through legal aid in each of the last three years. [58022]

Mr Simon Burns: Information on legally aided claims brought by minors as a percentage of all legally aided claims received by year is shown in the following table provided by the NHS Litigation Authority.

Number of clinical negligence claims funded by legal aid received 2008-09 to 2010-11
  Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor All legally aided claims Legally aided claims on behalf of a minor as percentage of all legally aided claims

2008-09

520

1,532

34

2009-10

446

1,341

33

2010-11

414

1,333

31

Total

1,380

4,206

33

Source: National Health Service Litigation Authority (May 2011)

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in legal costs by the NHS Litigation Authority to successful claimants in each of the last three years; what proportion of such payments were in respect of (a) base claimants' costs, (b) success fees and (c) disbursements in each such year; and in respect of the cases in which claimants costs were paid in each of the last three years, what the number and proportion of cases that were settled or lost (i) at trial and (ii) within six weeks of trial as a proportion of cases in which the Authority paid costs to claimants in each of those years. [58023]

Mr Simon Burns: The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

NHS: Personal Injury Claims

Yvonne Fovargue: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total recovered by the NHS was in respect of recovery of treatment costs in personal injury claims for each case type in each of the last three financial years; how many cases this represented in each case type in each such year; and what the total costs were that were not recovered as a result of the maximum cap on recovery. [58002]

Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following tables:

1: NHS Recoveries by liability type
£
  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Clinical negligence

180,440

607,134

1,341,236

Employer

5,960,820

13,661,251

17,710,402

Motor

123,351,651

130,673,295

131,352,977

Other

225,610

340,993

581,020

Public

5,259,012

12,633,411

18,012,614

Liability not yet known

23,091

62,137

51,933

8 Jun 2011 : Column 363W

Total

135,000,624

157,978,221

169,050,181

2: Volume of NHS Recovery payments by liability type
  2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Clinical negligence

64

218

475

Employer

7,636

15,942

20,171

Motor

145,564

151,439

147,244

Other

161

324

467

Public

6,354

13,962

18,947

Liability not yet known

25

63

71

Total

159,804

181,948

187,375

3: Total costs not recovered as a result of the maximum cap on recovery
  £

2008-09

10,500,891

2009-10

9,827,847

2010-11

10,153,651

Notes: 1. and 2. The data reflect the total value of NHS Recoveries (including Ambulance Charges) received by the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) relating to the NHS Injury Costs Recovery scheme for Trusts in England between 1 April 2008—31 March 2011 and the volume of cases these recoveries relate to. More than one payment may be received per case and each is counted separately. Cases where no payment was made are not included. Data are shown by year of payment. 3. The data reflect the total In Patient costs that were not recovered as a result of the maximum cap on recovery relating to Trusts in England. This reflects cases where a final settlement has been received within the relevant financial year, the NHS charges have been fully recovered, the maximum cap has been reached and the difference between the overall treatment costs and recovery value calculated.

NHS Chaplaincy Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of NHS chaplaincy services. [57959]

Paul Burstow: The Department recognises the important role played by chaplains in supporting the national health service to deliver patient-centred services. The second phase of the independent Palliative Care Funding

8 Jun 2011 : Column 364W

Review has asked for views on which core components of dedicated palliative care, including spiritual care, should be funded, wholly or partly, by the NHS as a statutory responsibility and which by society. Ministers will consider the recommendations of the review when they receive its final report, which is expected this summer.

Passive Smoking: Children

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to protect children from exposure to passive smoke. [57996]

Anne Milton: The Government's Tobacco Control Plan for England, “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England”, published on 9 March 2011, sets out a range of Government action, including action to protect children from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.

Although the exposure of children to second-hand tobacco smoke has come down in recent years, we want this to reduce further. We want smokers to change their behaviour so as to make sure that they do not harm those around them, particularly children exposed to second-hand in the home or in family cars. We will work with national media to raise awareness of the risks in exposing children to second-hand smoke.

The Department's new marketing strategy for tobacco control, which will be published this summer, will set out further details of how we will support efforts to encourage people to recognise the risks of second-hand smoke and to make their homes and private cars smokefree.

A copy of the Tobacco Control Plan has already been placed in the Library.

Primary Care Trusts: Manpower

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed in each primary care trust in (a) administrative and (b) frontline service posts in (i) May 2010 and (ii) May 2011; and if he will make a statement. [57857]

Mr Simon Burns: The following table gives the number of staff in the groups requested in 2010 and 2011. The information was taken from the NHS Information Centres annual workforce census for the years requested.

NHS hospital and community health services: NHS staff in England and in primary care trusts (PCTs) by main staff group as at 30 September each specified year (1)
Headcount
    2009 2010
    All NHS Staff All frontline staff NHS infrastructure support All NHS Staff All frontline staff NHS infrastructure support

England

 

1,277,459

1,040,992

236,103

1,176,313

942,615

233,342

of which

             

Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT

5HG

1,720

1,188

532

1,674

1,153

521

Barking and Dagenham PCT

5C2

722

517

205

153

35

118

Barnet PCT

5A9

1,341

1,022

319

1,261

971

290

Barnsley PCT

5JE

2,368

1,762

605

2,438

1,826

612

Bassetlaw PCT

SET

485

336

149

499

347

152

8 Jun 2011 : Column 365W

8 Jun 2011 : Column 366W

Bath and North East Somerset PCT

5FL

1,140

922

218

1,101

889

212

Bedfordshire PCT

5P2

1,444

1,070

366

1,466

1,079

387

Berkshire East PCT

5QG

1,218

1,059

159

1,212

1,032

180

Berkshire West PCT

5QF

1,681

1,366

315

1,761

1,419

342

Bexley Care Trust

TAK

622

501

121

153

27

126

Birmingham East and North PCT

5PG

2,290

1,573

717

2,400

1,615

785

Blackpool PCT

5HP

856

657

199

835

619

216

Bolton PCT

5HQ

1,865

1,413

452

1,895

1,423

472

Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT

SQN

1,212

1,018

190

1,149

981

164

Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT

5NY

2,561

2,018

542

2,582

2,059

523

Brent Teaching PCT

5K5

864

575

289

873

571

302

Brighton and Hove City PCT

5LQ

192

12

180

205

15

190

Bristol PCT

5QJ

1,662

1,032

630

1,670

1,014

656

Bromley PCT

5A7

1,182

939

243

1,079

838

241

Buckinghamshire PCT

5QD

1,802

1,380

418

340

151

188

Bury PCT

5JX

1,021

668

353

1,009

646

363

Calderdale PCT

5J6

712

461

251

779

504

275

Cambridgeshire PCT

5PP

2,914

2,471

436

369

71

298

Camden PCT

5K7

1,381

742

639

1,410

709

701

Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT

5NP

2,007

1,582

425

1,919

1,547

372

Central Lancashire PCT

5NG

2,849

2,100

749

2,733

1,986

747

City and Hackney Teaching PCT

5C3

1,076

833

243

1,073

794

279

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT

SQP

2,760

2,137

603

2,873

2,229

623

County Durham PCT

5ND

687

57

630

503

69

434

Coventry Teaching PCT

5MD

1,619

1,261

358

1,665

1,341

324

Croydon PCT

5K9

1,070

738

332

290

79

211

Cumbria Teaching PCT

5NE

2,541

1,941

600

2,452

1,887

565

Darlington PCT

5J9

2,719

2,367

352

2,952

2,466

486

Derby City PCT

5N7

1,185

718

467

988

682

306

Derbyshire County PCT

5N6

5,072

3,213

1,856

5,003

3,453

1,548

Devon PCT

5QQ

4,076

3,152

924

3,793

2,838

955

Doncaster PCT

5N5

1,756

1,294

462

1,692

1,206

486

Dorset PCT

5QM

3,037

2,199

838

3,102

2,224

878

Dudley PCT

5PE

1,485

1,036

449

1,478

989

489

Ealing Pa

5HX

1,250

881

369

1,234

879

355

East Lancashire Teaching PCT

5NH

2,729

1,949

780

2,615

1,837

778

East Riding of Yorkshire PCT

5NW

1,343

1,083

251

1,263

1,028

229

East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT

5P7

1,666

1,236

430

1,686

1,220

466

Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT

5QA

4,196

3,239

957

4,197

3,232

965

Enfield PCT

5C1

966

689

277

900

613

287

Gateshead PCT

5KF

920

782

138

2,706

2,287

419

Gloucestershire PCT

5QH

3,320

2,837

483

3,262

2,813

449

8 Jun 2011 : Column 367W

8 Jun 2011 : Column 368W

Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT

5PR

884

683

201

925

738

187

Greenwich Teaching PCT

5A8

898

690

208

912

601

311

Halton and St Helens PCT

5NM

1,835

1,390

445

1,768

1,311

457

Hammersmith and Fulham PCT

5H1

659

456

203

209

100

109

Hampshire PCT

5QC

3,774

2,989

785

3,627

2,857

770

Haringey Teaching PCT

5C9

775

623

152

830

677

153

Harrow PCT

5K6

546

376

170

535

373

162

Hastings and Rother PCT

5P8

899

728

169

944

783

161

Havering PCT

5A4

1,871

1,412

459

1,790

1,393

397

Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT

5MX

1,489

1,097

392

1,569

1,147

422

Herefordshire PCT

5CN

1,646

1,110

536

1,603

1,258

345

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT

5NQ

1,225

907

318

1,182

870

312

Hillingdon PCT

5AT

744

576

168

849

666

183

Hounslow PCT

5HY

656

545

111

117

14

103

Hull Teaching PCT

5NX

1,420

1,038

382

1,095

772

323

Isle of Wight NHS Pa

5QT

3,418

2,902

516

3,499

2,960

539

Islington PCT

5K8

1,101

826

275

1,114

841

273

Kensington and Chelsea PCT

SLA

843

574

269

2,461

2,091

370

Kingston PCT

5A5

594

461

133

99

28

71

Kirklees PCT

5N2

1,653

1,231

422

1,503

1,095

408

Knowsley PCT

5J4

1,189

1,136

342

1,456

1,124

322

Lambeth PCT

5LD

1,047

736

311

1,046

708

338

Leeds PCT

5N1

3,799

2,794

1,005

3,612

2,615

997

Leicester City PCT

5PC

1,477

977

500

1,150

945

205

Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT

5PA

3,176

2,207

955

3,204

2,151

1,037

Lewisham PCT

5LF

936

697

239

680

468

212

Lincolnshire Teaching PCT

5N9

3,050

2,232

797

3,532

2,635

875

Liverpool PCT

5NL

3,223

1,968

1,255

3,109

1,862

1,247

Luton PCT

5GC

734 ¦

548

175

740

547

1B3

Manchester PCT

5NT

2,893

1,925

968

3,043

2,031

1,012

Medway PCT

5L3

1,609

1,209

400

1,659

1,174

485

Mid Essex PCT

5PX

1,309

997

312

1,293

958

335

Middlesbrough PCT

5KM

255

37

218

219

31

188

Milton Keynes PCT

5CQ

1,543

1,199

344

1,574

1,176

398

Newcastle PCT

5D7

1,646

1,222

424

320

30

290

Newham PCT

5C5

1,303

1,025

278

1,240

951

289

Norfolk Pa

5PQ

3,524

2,893

624

3,235

2,693

539

North East Essex PCT

5PW

1,617

1,267

350

1,304

974

330

North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus

TAN

1,701

1,258

438

1,602

1,151

446

North Lancashire Teaching PCT

SNF

1,793

1,257

536

2,147

1,652

495

North Lincolnshire PCT

5EF

602

481

121

567

441

126

North Somerset PCT

5M8

603

417

186

642

435

207

8 Jun 2011 : Column 369W

8 Jun 2011 : Column 370W

North Staffordshire PCT

5PH

1,301

912

389

1,253

874

379

North Tyneside PCT

5D8

723

652

69

2,175

1,902

273

North Yorkshire and York PCT

5NV

4,489

3,482

996

4,633

3,655

966

Northamptonshire Teaching PCT

5PD

3,466

2,902

549

2,641

2,039

589

Northumberland Care Trust

TAC

1,611

1,300

311

1,640

1,306

334

Nottingham City PCT

5EM

1,666

1,297

369

1,665

1,311

354

Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT

5N8

3,492

2,392

1,092

3,395

2,343

1,044

Oldham PCT

5J5

1,188

878

310

1,263

935

328

Oxfordshire PCT

5QE

2,703

2,332

371

2,810

2,457

353

Peterborough PCT

5PN

1,511

1,189

322

1,444

1,135

309

Plymouth Teaching PCT

5F1

2,495

1,819

672

2,513

1,829

680

Portsmouth City Teaching PCT

5FE

2,813

2,036

777

684

38

646

Redbridge PCT

SNA

465

277

188

420

233

187

Redcar and Cleveland PCT

5QR

1,176

1,071

101

1,186

1,064

117

Richmond and Twickenham PCT

5M6

645

500

145

1,196

1,019

177

Rotherham PCT

5H8

1,805

1,201

604

1,699

1,154

545

Salford PCT

5F5

1,726

1,202

524

1,829

1,274

555

Sandwell PCT

5PF

1,498

1,046

452

1,423

969

454

Sefton PCT

5NJ

1,566

954

612

1,520

926

594

Sheffield PCT

5N4

2,405

1,947

458

2,432

1,987

445

Shropshire County PCT

5M2

1,261

916

345

1,234

895

339

Solihull Care Trust

TAM

1,660

1,344

316

1,698

1,447

251

Somerset PCT

5QL

2,643

1,980

663

2,779

2,093

686

South Birmingham PCT

5M1

3,766

3,020

746

3,753

2,948

805

South East Essex PCT

5P1

1,123

861

254

1,188

884

297

South Gloucestershire PCT

5A3

714

575

139

718

581

137

South Staffordshire PCT

5PK

2,469

2,130

339

2,437

2,109

328

South Tyneside PCT

5KG

772

604

168

184

5

179

South West Essex PCT

5PY

2,044

1,664

379

2,123

1,655

468

Southampton City PCT

5L1

1,957

1,725

232

3,990

3,629

361

Southwark PCT

5LE

907

677

230

850

611

239

Stockport PCT

5F7

1,346

892

454

1,274

831

443

Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT

5E1

187

36

151

214

40

174

Stoke on Trent PCT

5PJ

2,034

1,555

479

2,006

1,561

445

Suffolk PCT

5PT

2,133

1,727

400

2,201

1,790

404

Sunderland Teaching PCT

5KL

1,653

936

717

518

39

479

Surrey PCT

5P5

4,188

3,458

723

3,891

3,169

713

Sutton and Merton PCT

5M7

1,130

920

210

1,092

894

198

Sutton and Merton PCT

5M7

1,130

920

210

1,092

894

198

Swindon PCT

5K3

897

722

175

811

657

154

8 Jun 2011 : Column 371W

8 Jun 2011 : Column 372W

Tameside and Glossop PCT

5LH

1,268

935

333

1,198

890

308

Telford and Wrekin PCT

5MK

906

549

357

889

553

336

Torbay Care Trust

TAL

1,395

971

421

1,340

905

435

Tower Hamlets PCT

5C4

2,014

1,514

500

1,889

1,282

607

Trafford Pa

5NR

909

733

176

857

668

189

Wakefield District PCT

5N3

1,647

1,403

244

1,661

1,412

249

Walsall Teaching PCT

5M3

1,379

1,023

356

1,363

1,017

346

Waltham Forest PCT

5NC

148

14

134

140

20

120

Wandsworth PCT

5LG

1,635

1,115

520

321

141

180

Warrington Pa

5J2

1,010

800

210

923

733

190

Warwickshire Pa

5PM

1,939

1,454

485

1,967

1,509

458

West Essex Pa

5PV

1,177

876

301

1,206

870

336

West Kent Pa

5P9

2,314

1,665

649

2,245

1,572

673

West Sussex Pa

5P6

3,738

2,632

1,092

3,769

2,657

1,100

Western Cheshire PCT

5NN

1,390

938

452

1,165

770

395

Westminster PCT

5LC

1,211

1,026

185

303

89

214

Wiltshire PCT

5QK

2,277

1,747

530

2,214

1,699

515

Wirral PCT

5NK

1,760

1,295

465

1,745

1,332

413

Wolverhampton City PCT

5MV

2,600

1,998

602

2,616

2,035

581

Worcestershire PCT

5PL

2,691

2,212

179

2,689

2,210

479

(1 )The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication here: www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/010_Workforce/nhsstaff0010/Census_Bulletin_March_2011_Final.pdf Data are from the annual September Census. Comparable May data are not available for the requested years. Notes: 1. Frontline NHS staff (Including medical and dental staff, nursing staff, ambulance staff and support staff) have some significant contact with patients. Frontline staff excludes NHS infrastructure support staff, who have little significant or no patient contact. A small number of staff whose classification is unknown have also been excluded. 2. NHS infrastructure support staff includes administrative senior managers, managers, clerical staff, human resources, finance, information technology, and other areas of work which do not involve patient contact. Source: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census. The NH5 Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many former primary care trust employees have been re-employed or redeployed in preparation for the implementation of GP commissioning in each primary care trust area; and if he will make a statement. [57858]

Mr Simon Burns: Primary care trust (PCT) staff numbers are reducing in accordance with our administrative efficiency targets and the expectation is that these staff will not be re-employed. The impact assessment published alongside the Health and Social Care Bill estimated the numbers of staff likely to be made redundant, the upfront cost of this and the cost-saving in the longer term.

Should it be necessary to re-employ PCT staff in the interests of service continuity during the transition to general practitioner consortia, any moneys paid under the Mutually Agreed Resignation scheme will be clawed back in accordance with the terms of that scheme.

Special Needs: Health Services

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new GP consortia will provide annual health checks for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities; what arrangements he plans to put in place to consider the specific health needs of such people; and if he will make a statement; [58063]

(2) what arrangements his Department has put in place to ensure that the boards of NHS trusts consider the specific health needs of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement; [58064]

(3) how services will be commissioned for people with complex needs under his Department's proposals for the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [58065]

Paul Burstow: Subject to the NHS Listening Exercise and the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will commission national

8 Jun 2011 : Column 373W

and regional specialised services with commissioning consortia responsible for commissioning other complex services. Through consortia, general practitioners (GPs) and other clinicians will have new opportunities to shape the way that health services are designed and delivered. Taking into account the increasing range of NICE Quality Standards, consortia will work closely with secondary care and other health care professionals, and with community partners, to design joined-up services, and optimal care pathways, that make sense to patients, families and the public. They will have the freedom to seek the commissioning support they need to do this.

We will ensure that there is particular emphasis within the ‘pathfinder’ programme on testing ways of ensuring that consortia quickly develop knowledge and expertise in relation to more complex and specialist services. We will also ensure that the NHS Commissioning Board has a particular focus on promoting quality improvement in relation to more complex or specialist services. This will include exploring joint commissioning with local authorities, for instance in relation to care and support for children (including looked after children and children living in families with multiple problems), people with long-term mental health conditions, and people with learning disabilities.

In addition, local authorities and commissioning consortia will be required to prepare a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). This is to ensure that each area develops a comprehensive analysis of the current and future needs of their area (including those relevant to health, social care, public health). Based on the JSNA, the members of the Health and Wellbeing Board will be required to develop a joint health and well-being strategy for their area.

Arrangements for annual health checks for people with learning disabilities are currently covered by a Directed Enhanced Service, which forms part of the overall contractual framework for GP practices. Under the future commissioning arrangements proposed in the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board would be responsible for commissioning services from GP practices and for negotiating any changes to GP contracts.