§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 11 July, Official Report, columns 495–97, how the better quality of service to patients is being measured; and by whom.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe use a range of indicators covering such matters as the level of staff and other resources directly involved with patient care, changes in the pattern and distribution of services, developments in service levels and advances in new forms of diagnosis and treatment. We are well advanced with the development of better information and indicators on all these subjects. Health service managers at all levels monitor these improvements through regular performance reviews.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 11 July, Official Report, columns 495–97, if he will make a statement on the implications for achieving value for money and clearer accountability in the National Health Service of the decision, from 1 April, to make independent family practitioner committees directly accountable to the Secretary of State for Social Services.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe change in family practitioner committee status on 1 April established accountability from FPCs to the Secretary of State.962W Circular HC(FP)(85)10 which we issued in April, introduced management arrangements to secure that accountability including a process of annual FPC reviews and scrutinies which is now under way. We require FPCs to pursue value for money across the whole range of their responsibilities and, in addition to the management circular, we gave further guidance in a letter dated 29 March 1985 and sent it to all FPC chairmen. Copies of both are in the Library.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 11 July, Official Report, columns 495–97, if he will provide further details of the opinion poll on attitudes to the National Health Service; what was the size of the sample; and what were the other findings.
§ Mr. John PattenThe opinion poll, conducted by Marplan, was commissioned by the National Association of Health Authorities and the Health and Social Services Journal, from which the hon. Member could obtain further information.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 11 July, Official Report, columns 495–97, how many of the inpatients treated had been in five-day wards and have had to return for further treatment.
§ Mr. John PattenThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his answer of 11 July, Official Report, columns 495–97, what criteria were used to determine that the 1984 treatment figures should be compared with 1978 and waiting list figures with 1979.
§ Mr. John PattenThese were the figures which best reflected activity in the National Health Service at the end of the last Labour Government's tenure of office.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the effect on demand on the National Health Service resulting from the increased numbers of unemployed and, in particular, the increase in long-term unemployed.
§ Mr. John PattenLittle of the research carried out so far to quantify the possible effects of unemployment on health has been conclusive. Our priority is to continue to pursue policies to bring down unemployment and to continue to meet the health needs of the population, whatever their cause.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average capital expenditure on the National Health Service per year from 1974 to 1979; and how this compares with the average capital expenditure on the National Health Service per year from 1979 onwards.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeAverage annual National Health Service capital spending in England was £325 million between 1974–75 and 1978–79 and £641 million between 1979–80 and 1984–85.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether income from the sale of National Health Service property is taken into account when allocating funds to the National Health Service health regions and health districts, respectively.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not take this income into account when we allocate funds to regional health 963W authorities. The allocation of funds to district health authorities is a matter for RHAs to determine in the light of local needs and circumstances. As a general rule, we expect districts to be allowed to keep receipts from the sales of land or property without prejudice to their future allocations. But in the event, for example, of the sale of a large mental illness or mental handicap hospital serving a number of districts, we would expect the region to bear the income from the sale in mind in considering how to deploy resources generally to promote services in the districts concerned.