HC Deb 28 January 2000 vol 343 cc359-60W
Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what extra funding is planned for the NHS in Wales this year in response to the influenza outbreak. [106855]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what preparations in Wales were made in 1999 to deal with the annual rise in demand for the NHS over the Christmas period. [106857]

Mr. Paul Murphy

It was envisaged early on that this winter would be particularly difficult, with the potential additional problems from the Millennium date change and the possible impact of Millennium celebrations on hospitals.

This year the NHS in Wales received its largest ever increase in discretionary allocations (+10.5 per cent.). This additional money was announced at the beginning of the current financial year, allowing all parts of the NHS to draw up action plans and make contingency arrangements early in the year, building on experiences following the allocation of £22 million over the previous two years.

Plans drawn up by the NHS included the provision of increased numbers of staff and beds in hospitals, extra local rapid-response home care services and more beds in the nursing home sector. In addition, in August last year the Chief Medical Officer for Wales issued guidance on the immunisation of vulnerable people.

Since 1 July 1999, responsibility for the NHS in Wales has been for the National Assembly for Wales.