§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the Government's support for heart failure patients. [71657]
366W(2) how many (a) mental health nurses and (b) doctors specialising in mental health care there were and what was the estimated shortfall in (i) mental health nurses and (ii) doctors specialising in mental health care in (A) the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority, (B) Hampshire and (C) the South East in each year since 1996; what the projected figures are for (1) 2002 and (2) 2003; and if he will make a statement. [72029]
§ Ms BlearsInformation on vacancy rates has been collected in the National Health Service Vacancy Survey since 1999. Information, taken from the surveys for 1999 to 2002, has been placed in the Library. Details of shortfalls and projected vacancy rates are held at trust level and, therefore, are not available centrally.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much expenditure there was on mental health services in(a) the Isle of Wight, (b) Hampshire and (c) the South East in each year since 1996: what the projected expenditure is for (i) 2002 and (ii) 2003; and if he will make a statement. [72031]
§ Ms BlearsThe information on expenditure on mental illness, not including primary care services for those with mental illness, for the years 1996–97 to 2000–01 is shown in the table.
§ Ms BlearsIncreased investment and sustained efforts from National Health Service staff in recent years means the NHS is delivering life saving treatment to more people more quickly. A greater number of lives are being saved from premature death through heart attacks. This means more people are surviving with weakened hearts which, with an ageing population, has resulted in a growing number of people living with heart failure.
The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease recognised that there was more to he done to improve the care and quality of life that patients with heart failure experience, and to reduce the number of avoidable hospital admissions. As the early priorities for the NSF are now being delivered, heart failure is now a top priority for the next phase of delivery of the NSF.
The Department will be working in partnership with the British Heart Foundation, the NHS and other key players to ensure high quality care for these patients.
367W
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many heart failure patients there were in the UK in each of the last three years. [71658]
§ Ms BlearsThe information requested is shown in the table.
Hospital admissions for Heart Failure (ICD-10 code 150), England, 1998–99 to 2000–01 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 Hospital admissions for heart failure 82,382 80,055 74,441 Source:
Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics
Note:
The data shown represent the number of episodes that were the first in the spell of hospital in-patient treatment rather than a "count" of the number of patients.
These figures are for England only. Information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.
§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with(a) patient groups, (b) doctors and (c) pharmarceutical company representatives on heart failure. [71659]
§ Ms BlearsMinisters recently met with the British Heart Foundation to discuss services for heart failure, and Departmental officials have been in discussion with a range of clinicians and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, an expert sub-group of the coronary heart disease taskforce which includes patient representatives has met to inform the development of policy and practice to implement the national service framework chapter on heart failure.