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HEALTH
Unethical Health Professionals
Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve protection of the public from bogus, dangerous and unethical health professionals covered by the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine. [98493]
Mr. Hutton: We understand that the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM) publishes the names of all practitioners who have been subject to disciplinary proceedings and notifies employers of any practitioner who has been struck off. We have emphasised to National Health Service employers their responsibility for verifying the registration of prospective employees.
CS Spray
Mr. Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to order a study to be made on the effect of CS spray on detained persons who are apparently mentally ill; and if the Government will ensure that the use of CS spray on detained persons in such circumstances is suspended pending such a study. [98450]
Mr. Hutton:
The independent Committee on Toxicity recommended follow-up studies on persons sprayed with CS spray. This work is being taken forward by the Home Office and the Department and will aim to take into account any current use of neuroleptic medication. We have no other plans to order a study pending the outcome of this work.
25 Nov 1999 : Column: 186W
The use of CS spray is an approved police procedure and should be used in accordance with national guidelines. Chief Police Officers are encouraged to liaise with local health authorities and social services to ensure that there is a clear understanding of procedures to be used where persons are apparently mentally ill.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on civil servants transport in each of the last two years. [98695]
Yvette Cooper:
The amount spent on civil servants transport in the Department was £6.369 million in 1997-98 and £5.670 million in 1998-99.
Mr. Lilley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of births were delivered by Caesarian operation in each (a) maternity unit, (b) health trust and (c) health authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [98499]
Yvette Cooper:
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Miss McIntosh:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed at (a) York Health Services NHS Trust, (b) Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust and (c) Harrogate Health Care in (i) 1999, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1997. [99053]
Mr. Hutton:
The information requested is in the tables.
Unvalidated figures for 1999 indicate a steady position in both Harrogate and Northallerton with an increase in both head count and whole-time equivalents of qualified nurses in York.
| Year | Number |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 174 |
| 1997-98 | 187 |
| 1998-99 | 202 |
| 1999-2000 | 222 |
| 1997 | 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trusts | hc (5) | wte (6) | hc (5) | wte (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 3,850 | 2,820 | 3,400 | 2,620 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harrogate Health Care NHS Trust | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 920 | 730 | 900 | 690 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qualified | 650 | 530 | 650 | 520 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unqualified | 270 | 200 | 250 | 170
| Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust
| Total | 590 | 460 | 590 | 460
| Qualified | 430 | 340 | 530 | 420
| Unqualified | 160 | 120 | 60 | 40
| |
| York Health Services NHS Trust |
| Total | 2,340 | 1,630 | 1,910 | 1,470
| Qualified | 1,740 | 1,220 | 1,400 | 1,100
| Unqualified | 590 | 410 | 510 | 370
| | |||||||
(5) hc--indicates number
(6) wte--indicates whole time equivalent
Notes:
Figures are rounded to the nearest ten.
Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
Figures exclude learners and agency staff.
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.
25 Nov 1999 : Column: 187W
European Health Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome was of the Health Council held in Brussels on 18 November; and if he will make a statement. [99515]
Ms Stuart: I attended the Health Council on 18 November in Brussels on behalf of the United Kingdom.
The new Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, presented the Commission's fourth report on health protection in other Community policies and his ideas on the future Community public health strategy. This information was welcomed by Ministers and a Council Resolution on health protection in other Community policies was then adopted. The Commissioner reported on the adoption by the Commission of a proposed directive on the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products, which includes changes to the labelling and tar content of tobacco products. Commission reports on progress achieved in relation to public health protection from the harmful effects of tobacco and on developments on the negotiations taking place on the World Health Organisation's tobacco framework convention were presented. Following an open debate on the general policy of reduction of tobacco consumption, Council Conclusions were adopted on combating tobacco consumption. A Council Resolution was adopted on mental health promotion and progress was noted on a Resolution on antibiotic resistance to be adopted by the Agriculture Council in December. The Presidency reported on health issues beyond the present European Union borders, including: health in the applicant countries; health questions related to the Northern Dimension and the common strategy on Russia; and the euro-mediterranean conference of Health Ministers to be held in December. The Council noted that Conclusions had been adopted at a previous Council on the importance of co-operation with the applicant countries in the sphere of public health. The Commission reported on its plans for a new exchange of letters with WHO to encourage effective working relations. Commissioner Byrne reported on his wide-ranging plans to transform the Community's approach to food safety, including plans to establish a European food agency.
25 Nov 1999 : Column: 188W
The Council took note of progress reports on two pharmaceutical directives covering clinical trials and medical devices. Under any other business, the Netherlands raised its concerns about the impact on domestic health care systems of recent European Court of Justice cases about access to health benefits in other countries.
Mr. Hilary Benn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to NHS trusts concerning paid adoption leave for NHS staff. [99404]
Mr. Denham:
Special Leave for domestic, personal and family reasons, including adoption situations, is covered in Section 12 of the General Whitley Council Handbook. This covers those staff on nationally negotiated contracts. Copies of the handbook are available in the Library.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will seek to eliminate existing regional variations in standards of care and create a national minimum standard of continence care; [99305]
(3) if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will ensure that health authorities (a) promote local continence services to the public and (b) receive funds to safeguard that promotion. [99307]
Mr. Hutton:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 1 November 1999, Official Report, column 50W.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances NHS policy determines whether an individual is entitled to continence services. [99306]
Mr. Hutton:
Anyone with a continence problem will normally approach their general practitioner in the first instance. The GP will then decide what steps to take to treat their continence problem. This can include referral to a continence nurse specialist for appropriate treatment.
(2) if the forthcoming guidance on continence services will remove the existing ambiguity over the rights of people in residential care to receive a full NHS continence service; [99304]
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