§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he has issued to NHS dentists treating sufferers of hepatitis C. [75496]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 21 October 2002]: We have issued guidance to the National Health Service in 1998 on protecting clinical health care workers such as dentists from infection with blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis C.
261WThe General Dental Council (GDC) has issued guidance to dentists which stresses the importance of taking appropriate measures to prevent cross-infection and of taking account of relevant guidance from the Department and the British Dental Association. The GDC has also advised dentists that it is unethical to refuse to treat a patient solely on the grounds that the person has a blood-borne virus or any other transmissible disease or infection.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many PCTs offer interferon combination drugs to hepatitis C sufferers. [75498]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer on 21 October 2002]: The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of primary care trusts (PCTs) that currently offer combination drug therapy for hepatitis C.
From 1 January 2002, PCTs are under a statutory obligation to provide appropriate funding for treatments or drugs which have been recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting times are for hepatitis C sufferers to see a liver specialist, broken down by strategic regional health authority area. [75536]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 21 October 2002]: The Department does not hold information centrally on the average waiting times for patients with hepatitis C to see a specialist.
Patients diagnosed with hepatitis C are likely to be referred to physicians within the gastroenterology or infectious diseases specialities. Average outpatient waiting times for first appointment in these specialties in 2000–2001 by National Health Service region are shown in the table.
Outpatient waiting times 2001–02, speciality gastroenterology: Trust based data by Region— effective length of wait from receipt of general practitioner written referral to first outpatient attendance (weeks) Region Average waiting time (median) weeks Northern & Yorkshire 8.1 Trent 6.9 West Midlands 8.4 North West 9.4 Eastern 7.4 London 8.3 South East 7.4 South West 10.3 England 8.1 262W
Outpatient waiting times 2001–02, speciality infectious diseases: Trust based data by Region—effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral to first outpatient attendance (weeks) Region Average waiting time (median) weeks Northern & Yorkshire 4.3 Trent 6.3 West Midlands 5.6 North West 4.3 London 3.1 South East 3.2 South West 2.0
Outpatient waiting times 2001–02, speciality infectious diseases: Trust based data by Region—effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral to first outpatient attendance (weeks) Region Average waiting time (median) weeks England 3.4
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce screening for hepatitis C. [75495]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer on 21 October 2002]: Our consultation paper, Hepatitis C Strategy for England, which was published on 14 August 2002, proposes that individuals at increased risk of infection or with otherwise unexplained liver disease should be offered testing for hepatitis C.
The United Kingdom national screening committee has not recommended the introduction of antenatal screening for hepatitis C in the absence of a proven safe and effective intervention to prevent infant infection and limited evidence about the natural history and treatment of children infected with hepatitis C. This advice is in line with United States and European consensus statements. However, antenatal settings might provide an opportunity to offer hepatitis C testing to women at increased risk of infection.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on hepatitis C public awareness campaigns last year. [75563]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer on 21 October 2002]: Our consultation paper, Hepatitis C Strategy for England, which was published on 14 August 2002, identifies the need for a campaign to raise public awareness of hepatitis C. This campaign will be developed taking account of responses to the consultation exercise and meetings with stakeholders from the National Health Service and voluntary and community sectors.
In the last financial year, 2001–2002, we made £90,000 in section 64 grant funding available to the British Liver Trust and Mainliners for activities connected to the provision of information to professionals and the public on hepatitis C. We also produced a hepatitis C briefing pack for health professionals, which included a patient leaflet for use in consultations at a cost of approximately £130,000.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's estimate is of the number of hepatitis C sufferers; and how many are receiving treatment in the NHS. [75742]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 21 October 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Thursday 2 May 2002, Official Report column 998W and the reply I gave him on Tuesday 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 630W.