§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will estimate the extra costs associated with implementing in full the national screening programme for chlamydia immediately; [159729]
(2) what reasons underlie the decision not to implement throughout England a chlamydia screening programme until 2008; [159732]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of chlamydia infections that will go unidentified before the national screening programme is fully implemented in 2008; [159733]
(4) if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of (a) infertility treatment and (b) other treatment relating to chlamydia infections over the next 50 years. [159772]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonReliable cost estimates of introducing the full chlamydia screening programme immediately are not available. The Government are committed to completing the screening programme for chlamydia at the earliest possible date.
We believe that the phased introduction of screening, in line with advice from the national screening committee, is the most effective way forward. Local areas need support in establishing the programme which involves organising screening across a network of services and ensuring that samples are sent to laboratories, positive; results are sent to individuals and that treatment, partner notification and contact tracing are undertaken. In addition laboratory staff are being trained to use the more reliable molecular amplification test, which we are supporting across all the regions.
In just two years, the programme has been rolled-out to over a quarter of primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The third phase of the programme will be launched this year, which will bring total coverage to one third of PCTs.
Estimates on future numbers of infections are not available. Estimates are also not available on the cost to the national health service of infertility and other treatment relating to chlamydia infection over the next 50 years.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 1 March,Official Report, column 708W on sexual health, if he will provide total figures for England for each year. [159974]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe total number of teenagers (patients who were less than 20 years of age) treated for sexually transmitted diseases in genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in England from 1995 to 2002 are shown in the table.
1069WNote:
The England totals shown here correspond to the total number of cases shown in the regional table given in the answer of 1 March, Official Report, column 708W. The strategic health authority data totals given in that answer differ from the regional data totals because these, and most of CDSC's other sexually transmitted disease data presentations, are calculated using an imputation method. Data below regional level are not imputed.
Data source:
Health Protection Agency, KC60 statutory returns from GUM clinics.