Cerebral Palsy: Medical Treatments
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people have been treated by the NHS for cerebral palsy selective dorsal rhizotomy in the last three years; [65145]
(2) how many people have been diagnosed with cerebral palsy selective dorsal rhizotomy in the last three years; [65146]
(3) if he will make available on the NHS in England a treatment for cerebral palsy selective dorsal rhizotomy similar to that available in the US. [65147]
Paul Burstow: Information on the number of people diagnosed, and treated, for cerebral palsy selective dorsal rhizotomy is not collected centrally.
In December 2010, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence revised their existing guidance on selective dorsal rhizotomy because they now had a
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greater evidence base regarding its safety and efficacy. They recommend that the operation can improve the comfort and mobility of some people who have cerebral palsy. However, the operation still carries some serious risks and is not a cure for spasticity. Funding for this procedure is a matter for local health bodies.
Dementia
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnoses of dementia there were in each of the last three years. [65148]
Paul Burstow: Data on new diagnoses of dementia are not collected. However, the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) collects each year the number of patients on the dementia register in general practices. The figures for the latest three years are shown in the following table.
|
|
Number on dementia register |
| Note: Coverage of QOF—Patients will only contribute to the figures in QOF if they are registered with a general practice participating in QOF. | |
We believe however that these figures underestimate the actual number of people in England who have dementia and it is estimated that approximately 650,000 people in England have the condition. Because of this level of under-diagnosis, one of the Government's priority objectives in implementing the National Dementia Strategy is increasing the early diagnosis of dementia.
Carbon Emissions
Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether he has issued any guidance on the generation of low-carbon energy on estates owned by (a) his Department and (b) the NHS; [65459]
(2) if he will explore the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on his estate. [65460]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has not issued any specific guidance on the generation of low-carbon energy on estates owned by the Department, although guidance is received from the Carbon Trust though the Carbon Management Programme.
The Department has issued “Health Technical Memorandum 07-02 Encode, making energy work in healthcare” and “HTM 07-07 Sustainable Health and Social Care Buildings”, which have been placed in the Library. Both documents encourage the national health service to consider a wide range of low-carbon energy opportunities. The NHS also takes guidance from the Carbon Trust through the Carbon Management Programme and is further informed through the NHS Sustainable Development Unit, which is supported by the Department.
The Department will look to explore the feasibility of low-carbon energy generation on its estate in this financial year.
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Business Regulation
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations his Department has introduced (a) in the six months prior to 1 September 2010 and (b) in the six months after 1 September 2010 which it has determined do not impose costs on businesses. [65307]
Mr Simon Burns: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010, no regulations were introduced by the Department which impact on businesses.
In the six months after 1 September 2010, two regulations Care Quality Commission registration and Health service Branded Medicines have been introduced which do not impose a cost on businesses.
The Government's policy is to consider alternatives to regulation. A list of regulatory measures introduced in the first half of 2011 that impact business can be found in the Statement of New Regulation, which has already been placed in the Library.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department has (a) introduced and (b) removed since 1 September 2010; what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was; and what regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address (i) emergencies and (ii) systemic financial risks since 1 September 2010. [65324]
Mr Simon Burns: In the period from September 2010 to December 2010 no regulations were introduced or removed by the Department that impact on business. A list of regulatory measures that impact on business that were introduced or removed in the first half of 2011 can be found in the Statement of New Regulation, which has already been placed in the Library,
The one-in one-out regulatory management system, although announced in September, did not come into force until January 2011.
No regulations have been excluded from the one-in one-out system because they address emergencies and systemic financial risks.
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many regulations that impose costs on businesses his Department (a) introduced and (b) removed in the six months prior to 1 September 2010; and what the net effect on the costs on businesses of such introductions and removals was. [65340]
Mr Simon Burns: In the six months prior to 1 September 2010, no regulations were introduced or removed that impose costs on businesses.
General Practitioners: Devon
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GPs there are per head of population in (a) Devon and (b) Newton Abbot constituency. [63362]
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Mr Simon Burns: Information about the number of general practitioners (GPs) at a constituency level is not held by the Department. The Department holds information about GP numbers at primary care trust (PCT) and care trust level. The data for the three such trusts in Devon are in the following table.
| Number of GPs in Devon | ||
|
|
All GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount (1) | All GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) headcount per 100,000 population |
| (1) The new headcount methodology for 2010 data are 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. Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. (2) The area of Devon is serviced by Devon PCT, Plymouth PCT and Torbay PCT. A sub-total of the three PCTs has been provided. GP workforce data are not available at constituency level. In England, only local PCTs and Strategic Health Authorities. Newton Abbot is contained within and serviced by Devon PCT. Notes: 1. Data as at 30 September 2010. 2. GP per head of population figures have been calculated using Office for National Statistic resident population estimates. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Sources: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics Office for National Statistics, 2009 Final Mid-Year Population Estimates (2001 census based), Adjusted May 2010 to reflect revisions to migration methodology | ||
Health Services
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to mandate a timetable for the formation of clinical senates and specialist commissioning networks. [65810]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum report set out a revised timetable for changes in the national health service, recognising the need for flexibility in transitioning to the new system.
The NHS Commissioning Board will be established formally by October 2012 with a limited set of functions, in order to start considering applications for authorisation from clinical commissioning groups. By April 2013, the NHS Commissioning Board will have taken on its full responsibilities, and general practitioner practices will be members of either an authorised clinical commissioning group, or a 'shadow' commissioning group (one that is legally established but operating only in shadow form, with the NHS Commissioning Board commissioning on its behalf).
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Clinical commissioning groups will receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services, in order to provide the best care and outcomes for patients. The NHS Commissioning Board will work with stakeholders and the NHS Future Forum on the detailed design of clinical senates and networks, and we will publish further details in due course.
NHS Debt: Greater London
John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) debt and (b) revenue budget balance has been of each NHS hospital trust in greater London in each of the last four years. [65478]
Mr Simon Burns: The information requested is not available in the format requested.
(a) the total amount owed by national health service trusts in London in respect of bank overdrafts, current and long term loans, obligations under finance leases and private finance initiative arrangements for each financial year 2007-10; and
(b) the revenue budget balance (surplus/operating deficit) of each NHS hospital trust in London for each financial year 2007- 11.
| NHS hospital trust debt as at 31 March 2007-10 | ||||
| £000 | ||||
| Organisation | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
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| Note: ‘Debt’ can be interpreted in a number of ways in relation to the finances of NHS trusts. We have interpreted ‘debt’ to mean the total amount reported by each NHS trust in their balance sheet in respect of bank overdrafts, loans, finance leases and Private finance initiative arrangements. These are the items most readily identified with the term ‘debt’ in accounting terminology. Source: Department of Health audited summarisation schedules, 2006-07 to 2009-10 | ||||
| The revenue budget balance (surplus/operating deficit) of each NHS hospital trust in London for each financial year 2007-11 | |||||
| £000 | |||||
| Organisation code | Trust name | 2007-08 annual accounts surplus/ (deficit) | 2 008-09 annual accounts surplus/ (operating deficit) | 2009-10 annual accounts surplus (operating deficit) | 2 010-11 annual accounts surplus/ (operating deficit) |
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| (1) Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust achieved Foundation Trust status on 1 March 2008. (2) Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust achieved Foundation Trust status on 1 May 2007. (3) Rebranding of Central West London Community Services to Central London Community Healthcare completed in July 2009. Central London Community Healthcare NHS (RYX) was established on 1 November 2010. (4) East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust achieved Foundation Trust status on 1 November 2007. (5) Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust was formed from St Mary's NHS Trust and Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust. (6) Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust has changed its name to Croydon Health Services NHS Trust (RJ6) on the 1 October 2010. (7) North East London Mental Health NHS Trust achieved Foundation Trust status on 1 June 2008. (8) Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust achieved Foundation Trust status on 1 June 2009. (9) South London Healthcare Trust was formed from the merger of Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust (RG2), Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust (RG3), and Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust (RGZ). Note: The 2010-11 figures for South London Healthcare NHS Trust are based on their Draft accounts. Source: NHS Final Accounts, NHS Financial Controller's Office—Department of Health | |||||
Health Services: Special Educational Needs
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means NHS commissioners will obtain expert advice and support from speech and language therapists to improve integration between provision of health services and education services for those with special educational needs. [65857]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government want the full range of health and care professionals to be involved in the new commissioning arrangements, supporting the NHS Commissioning Board and clinical commissioning groups to design pathways of care and shape services. The Government's response to the NHS Future Forum report makes clear that they will strengthen existing duties on clinical commissioning groups to secure professional advice and ensure this advice is from a full range of health professionals where relevant. Clinical commissioning groups will also receive expert support and advice from clinical networks and senates on the design and delivery of services. Clinical networks and senates will have a wide range of multi-disciplinary input, including from allied health professionals, to support the better integration of services.
Clinical commissioning groups will be supported and held to account by a national NHS Commissioning Board. Subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for issuing guidance to commissioning groups on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice, for example in relation to working with clinical networks and senates.
Hospital Admissions: Devon
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to (a) Newton Abbot Hospital, (b) Dawlish hospital and (c) Teignmouth hospital in the latest year for which figures are available. [63363]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department is not able to provide data at hospital site level. The following table provides figures for activity provided by Devon Primary Care Trust (PCT) within which Newton Abbot hospital, Dawlish hospital and Teignmouth hospital, and other hospitals are located. The England figure is provided for comparison.
| Count of finished admission episodes (1) for activity provided by Devon PCT and England 2009-10 | |
|
|
Number |
| (1) Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Notes: 1. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. It should be noted that activity provided by Devon PCT is not the same as activity commissioned by this PCT. Activity provided by the PCT only covers in-patient activity in hospital beds owned by the PCT. 3. The latest published annual Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data are for 2009-10. 4. It should be noted that the number of finished admission episodes does not relate to people as an individual may have had more than one admission to hospital in a year. Source: HES, The NHS Information Centre for health and social care | |
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Hospitals: Infectious Diseases
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has undertaken on the spread of MRSA and C. difficile in hospitals; and what the findings of this research are. [65158]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department funds, through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Policy Research Programme (PRP), a range of research relevant to antibiotic resistant micro-organisms in health care settings, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile).
For example, through the UK Clinical Research Collaboration Translational Infection Research Initiative, a group of researchers based at Oxford university have been working on establishing how revolutionary new technologies can be optimally integrated into microbiology research and service.
Researchers have identified whole genome sequencing as an appropriate initial typing strategy for four pathogens, including MRSA and C. difficile. Translating this whole genome sequencing data to the investigation of pathogen infections has started to give rise to improved understanding of patterns of spread, mechanisms of resistance, evolution and basic biology.
Human Trafficking
Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility he has for contributing to Government action against human trafficking; and what recent action he has taken in this regard. [65302]
Anne Milton: There is a vital role for health services to play in identifying and responding to the needs of human trafficking victims. The Department of Health is therefore working with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre and others, to improve the response from health services to victims of trafficking.
The Department has allocated £80,000 to work with the Women's Health and Equality Consortium on a project to agree specific actions to promote greater awareness of human trafficking and provide health professionals with guidance on how to respond to victims appropriately. The project is due to commence in summer 2011. As part of this work, the Department is seeking to provide more health services/professionals with the training and skills to refer potential victims directly into the National Referral Mechanism. The Department has also recognised the need for better understanding of the issues around health and trafficking and has therefore invited bids for research in this area, due to commence in 2011. The Royal College of General Practitioners has also been commissioned to develop an e-learning course on violence against women and children which will include trafficking.
Medical Equipment
Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are in place in the NHS to ascertain the professional skills and standards of surgical instrument contractors. [65247]
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Mr Simon Burns: No separate assessment is made of the professional skills of individuals employed by surgical instrument suppliers to the national health service.
Manufacturers of surgical equipment must ensure that their devices meet the relevant safety, quality and performance requirements laid down in the European Union (EU) medical devices directive prior to placement on the United Kingdom market. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has a role in the surveillance and enforcement of the regulation of devices placed in the UK and will assess all allegations of non-compliance brought to its attention.
A system is in place for the user reporting and assessment of incidents of device failures. In the event of evidence emerging that devices placed on the market are not compliant with the requirements of the directive, the MHRA has a range of powers and sanctions available under the Consumer Protection Act to deal with the problem.
The NHS Supply Chain has set in place framework agreements for the supply of surgical instruments for use by the NHS. As part of these assessments, quality and price are taken into account and manufacturers will comply with legislation and regulatory requirements.
Mental Health
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that Public Health England takes account of the findings of his Department's mental health strategy with respect to linkages between mental health, well-being and employment. [65859]
Paul Burstow: Subject to the Health and Social Care Bill receiving Royal Assent, Public Health England will be an integrated public health delivery body that will support the delivery of public health services by providing information and scientific advice to local authorities and the national health service. It will be established on 1 April 2013. We will ensure that Public Health England will support the mental health strategy objectives by including improving mental health and well-being within its overarching functions.
Mental Health Strategy
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) speech and language therapists and (b) allied health professionals are to be represented on the ministerial advisory group for his Department's mental health strategy. [65858]
Paul Burstow: Allied health professions have representation on the ministerial advisory group for the mental health strategy through the Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF). The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists is a member of the AHPF.
Health and Social Care
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there will be a person appointed to the NHS Commissioning Board who has a primary duty to promote integration across health and social care. [65807]
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Mr Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill published on 19 January 2011 sets out details about the membership of the NHS Commissioning Board. Sir David Nicholson published a document on 8 July 2011 entitled Developing the NHS Commissioning Board setting out further details about the design and operating model of the NHS Commissioning Board. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.
The Board itself will determine its own appointments but will include people with a range of skills and experience covering both health and social care.
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to promote the integration of health and social care budgets. [65808]
Paul Burstow: Flexibilities in the National Health Service 2006 Act already support opportunities for integrated working by facilitating lead commissioning, integrated provision and pooled budgets.
The Government have identified greater integration between health and social care as a key priority and has demonstrated its importance by the development of new and integrated health, social care and public health outcomes frameworks.
Furthermore, in line with the recommendations of the NHS Future Forum, our proposed amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill will ensure, subject to parliamentary approval, that there will be a stronger duty on the NHS Commissioning Board, clinical commissioning groups, the Health and Wellbeing boards and monitor to encourage integrated working at all levels.
Improving integration between health and social care will also be one of themes of the engagement exercise following on from the Government's response to the report of the Commission on the funding of care and support.
NHS: Charities
Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill will provide greater opportunities for charitable providers to take on NHS services. [65809]
Mr Simon Burns: The Government are committed to giving patients greater choice of any qualified provider and creating a fair playing field, in which the best providers (from whichever sector) flourish. We will make sure that what matters is the quality of care provided, not who owns the organisation providing it. Charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises will have the opportunity to offer services that, as well as achieving health and social care outcomes, can respond to clients' individual needs and provide real social value.
Amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill will outlaw any policy to increase or decrease the market share of any particular sector of provider. As a result of the changes we have proposed, Monitor, the NHS Commissioning Board and the Secretary of State would not be able to exercise their functions for the purpose of increasing the market shares of any sector of provider.
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NHS: Telephone Services
Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of (a) GP surgeries, (b) hospitals and (c) dental practices in (i) England and (ii) Devon that operate 0844 or 0845 telephone numbers. [63378]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department has made no assessment of the number of general practitioner surgeries, hospitals, or dental practices in England that use 0844 or 0845 numbers for patients seeking appointments.
The Department issued guidance and directions to national health service bodies in December 2009 on the cost of telephone calls, which prohibit the use of telephone numbers that charge the patient more than the equivalent cost of calling a geographical number to contact the NHS. It is currently the responsibility of primary care trusts to ensure that local practices are compliant with the directions and guidance.
Prostate Cancer
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he gave to including indicators for better one and five year survival rates for prostate cancer in the NHS Outcomes Framework. [65229]
Paul Burstow: The NHS Outcomes Framework indicators were selected on the basis of trying to achieve a balanced, high-level set of outcome goals that signal improving quality across the breadth of services that the national health service provides. This was conducted through a full public consultation with stakeholders, and suggestions received were considered as part of this process.
We considered indicators across a range of population groups and conditions, including cancer and its various types, and using a set of criteria assessed their suitability for inclusion in the framework. For this reason, it was not possible to include an indicator on survival from prostate cancer.
In addition, ‘Improving Outcomes: a Strategy for Cancer’ sets out the Government's broader plans to improve outcomes for patients with all cancers, including those with prostate cancer.
Mr Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the NHS Quality Standard for prostate cancer will be developed; and what relationship the standard will have with the revised National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines on prostate cancer. [65230]
Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has been commissioned to produce a Quality Standard for prostate cancer during the period 2011-12. NICE provides progress updates on its Quality Standard programme on its website:
www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/qualitystandards/qualitystandards.jsp
NICE is undertaking a review to decide whether the prostate cancer clinical guideline should be updated and will make appropriate links with the development of the Quality Standard should they decide to do so.
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Tuberculosis
Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps is he taking to stop the spread of tuberculosis; and what assessment he has made of the contribution of border controls to reduce the spread of the disease. [65149]
Anne Milton:
The Department and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have published guidance to support the national health service in commissioning
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and providing effective services to prevent, diagnose and treat tuberculosis (TB).
In addition, the Department is funding TB Alert to raise awareness among groups at risk of TB and among primary care workers.
We expect NHS organisations and their partners to ensure early detection, treatment completion and co-ordinated action to prevent and control TB.
The UK Border Agency is currently reviewing the existing TB screening arrangements for migrants with support from the Department and the Health Protection Agency.