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Water Fluoridation
Lord Colwyn asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who was consulted in the drafting of the regulations requiring consultation of local communities prior to the introduction of water fluoridation; and when they are planning to publish those regulations. [HL1179]
Baroness Andrews: We laid regulations before Parliament on 22 February. The bodies listed as follows received copies of our consultation document.
British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry
British Dental Health Foundation
British Society for Dental Research
British Society for Paediatric Dentistry
Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
National Association for Dentistry in Health Authorities and Trusts
National Pure Water Association
Oral Health Promotion Research Group
Regional Directors of Public Health
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Strategic Health Authority Chief Executives
Strategic Health Authority dental leads
Strategic Health Authority Regional Director of Public Health
Hepatitis C and HIV Inadvertent Blood Infection: Payment Schemes
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Warner on 31 January (WA 10), what is the justification for denying financial help from the government-funded Skipton Fund to widows of haemophilia patients whose deaths were attributable to hepatitis C infection from contaminated National Health Service blood products, when financial help is available from the government-funded Macfarlane Fund to widows of patients whose deaths were attributable to HIV infection from the same source. [HL1190]
Baroness Andrews: The Government have great sympathy for the pain and hardship suffered by the widows of those inadvertently infected with hepatitis C. However, it has always been clear that the ex gratia payment scheme is for those living with the virus and is not designed to compensate for bereavement.
The schemes administered by the Skipton Fund and the Macfarlane Trust have been established for different purposes and are two distinct schemes.
Medical Practitioners: Decisions
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their objective that courts should observe a principle of non-intervention in decisions by medical practitioners which are dependent partly or wholly on considerations concerning the best allocation of scarce resources; and, if so:
(a) how best allocation is to be defined;
(b) whether medical and nursing staff will be allowed a conscience or opt-out right which will be evident to patients; and
(c) whether such an objective is compatible with the assurances the Government gave during consideration of the Mental Capacity Bill. [HL1303]
Baroness Andrews: The Question raises issues that are to be considered by the court in the appeal General Medical Council v Oliver Leslie Burke and others so it is inappropriate for the Government to comment in advance of the hearing.
Dentists: Clinical Indemnity Insurance
Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, for the protection of patients, they intend to make clinical indemnity insurance mandatory for dentists in professional practice; and, if so, whether they intend to make it mandatory for this cover to remain in force after dentists have ceased practising. [HL1343]
Baroness Andrews: The order we will lay before Parliament this spring will make such cover compulsory. The order will give the General Dental Council the power to specify in statutory rules, which will be subject to parliamentary approval, the types of cover sufficient to provide proper protection for patients' interests.
23 Feb 2005 : Column WA216
Kidney Disease
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment has been made of the health implications for people with kidney disease failing to meet their recommended salt intake levels. [HL1345]
Baroness Andrews: People receiving dialysis will normally be on a low sodium diet. Standards 2 and 4 of the National Service Framework for Renal Services (Part One) published in January 2004 identify the need for people to receive nutrition monitoring and dietary advice as well as the continuing management of their underlying diseases and the risk factors and complications.
Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's Government:
What recommendations have been made to individuals with high blood pressure about the dangers of over-consumption of salt and its association with the onset of kidney disease. [HL1346]
Baroness Andrews: The guideline published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence entitled Hypertension—Management of Hypertension in Adults in Primary Care makes it clear that lifestyle advice on healthy eating should be given to people with high blood pressure including advice on reducing salt intake.
23 Feb 2005 : Column WA215
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