§ 2.53 p.m.
§ Lord Clement-Jonesasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they believe that resources currently allocated to the National Health Service will be adequate to ensure that their targets for cancer, cardiac and mental health outcomes will be met.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)My Lords, the Government are committed to a 10-year programme to modernise the National Health Service so that there is equal access to high standards everywhere and faster and convenient services. Improvements in cancer, coronary heart disease and mental health outcomes are at the top of the Government's agenda.
§ Lord Clement-JonesMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that brief reply. Does he agree that this is a major task, particularly in the field of cancer, when cancer survival rates are currently lower in this country than they are in Poland? Further, does he agree with the warning of Professor Sikora, of Imperial College, that, without more money, cancer services in Britain will continue to lag behind those of our European neighbours in terms of survival rates? Further, does he agree with the professor in his highlighting of a shortage of 500 cancer specialists, a backlog of some £1.2 billion in radiotherapy equipment, and the need for £170 million a year more for chemotherapy? Will Professor Richards' strategy for cancer services address those points?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, I am grateful for that long question. The Government are very concerned to sort out the issues that have been mentioned in relation to cancer services and, specifically, the variations in quality and the 530 inconsistency in treatment and care which we inherited. We have indicated that we have a strategic programme in relation to prevention, to the implementation of Calman/Hine so that there is an effective network of cancer care throughout the country, and to ensuring that resources are made available. For instance, by 2001, an extra £230 million pounds will have been invested in cancer services and a £200 million capital programme will be under way.
§ Lord Pilkington of OxenfordMy Lords, will the Minister assure the House that there will be no rationing of cancer services for elderly patients? There have been rumours that elderly men with prostate cancer do not always receive treatment for their condition as readily as younger people. Will the Minister give an assurance that does not, and will not, occur?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathYes, my Lords. As I have said recently in this House, we will not contemplate or accept any discrimination against older people in receiving NHS services.
§ Lord PatelMy Lords, is it the Government's intention to extend the successful breast screening programme to women aged over 65? If so, will it be separately and adequately funded?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, there are three pilot programmes examining the feasibility, evidence and outcomes of extending the programme in the way suggested by the noble Lord. When we have evaluated the outcome of the pilot schemes, we shall look to the financial consequences.
§ Baroness Masham of IltonMy Lords, will the Government examine the problem of mentally ill people in prisons, and try to do something about it?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathYes, my Lords. We are concerned to improve the health outcomes of prisoners, whether in mental health or other areas of the health spectrum. There is—dare I say it?—a task force in existence which is looking at how the situation can be improved. The main component is that the National Health Service is making itself available to work in partnership with the Prison Service. Mental health services will form an important part of that process.
§ Lord HyltonMy Lords, does the Minister agree that the main problem identified in the previous question is the creation of more beds in secure wings in mental and general hospitals?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathYes, my Lords, there is no doubt that some prisoners would be much better accommodated in secure beds. We plan to have 300 additional secure beds in operation by 2002.
§ Earl HoweMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the Healthcare Financial Management Association 531 recently published a survey indicating that 48 per cent of NHS trusts were currently in deficit, and that 37 per cent predicated that they would have to make cuts in direct service provision this year in order to balance their budget? How will the Government make sure that that does not happen?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathFirst, my Lords, we should take the report of the HFMA with a great deal of caution, bearing in mind its wildly exaggerated figures for the cumulative deficit of the NHS. There are some NHS trusts that are presently facing financial pressures. However, the noble Earl will know that we recently announced an injection of £134 million in-year to the NHS, specifically to meet some of the costs arising from the increase in generic drugs and, centrally, to cover the increasing cost of clinical negligence. That will be an enormous help.
§ Lord ColwynMy Lords, does the Minister agree that while the costs of treatment of cancer, heart disease and mental illness have increased, the positive results have declined? Is not the time now ripe for the Government to allocate serious funding for major systems of complementary medicine whose target is prevention?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, I do not agree with the first part of the noble Lord's question. We are concerned to ensure that the outcomes of treatment are as positive as they can be. The development of national service frameworks, the work of the National Institute of Clinical Effectiveness and the Commission for Health Improvement is all designed, alongside local clinical governance, to improve outcomes.
As for complementary medicine, recognise that many people find it of value. I also understand that in addition to that which is available within the private sector, many parts of the NHS are able to provide complementary medicine to NHS patients.
§ Baroness Thomas of WalliswoodMy Lords, my noble friend's question was directed towards resources. He subsequently mentioned the well attested lack of about 500 consultants in the cancer field. What strategies exist for correcting that loss? How long will it take and what resources will be required?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, there are 400 prospective consultants in the range of services that would be encompassed by cancer services coming through the system. Of course, work force issues are important, not only in relation to consultants but also in relation to nurses, radiographers and other support services. Professor Mike Richards, who has taken on the job of leading our development of cancer services, is taking it as one of his major priorities and the results of his work will then be fed into our workforce planning mechanisms.
§ Baroness Knight of CollingtreeMy Lords, can the Minister assure the House that the large sum of money 532 he mentioned as having been allocated for those purposes is all new money? Alternatively, has some of it been allocated, as was mentioned?
§ Lord Hunt of Kings HeathMy Lords, much of the resource I mentioned has come within the comprehensive spending review allocation. But the House needs to recognise that that comprehensive spending review allocation brought the NHS considerable amounts of new resources. Over the period of the comprehensive spending review, we are giving the NHS 4.9 per cent real growth. I contrast that with the last five years of the previous administration which managed only 2.7 per cent.