HC Deb 10 May 2004 vol 421 cc176-85W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 30 March 2004,Official Report, column 83WS, on NHS charges, what the cost of providing (a) sight tests, (b) dental check-ups and (c) prescription charges free on the NHS will be following the changes. [166430]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The estimated additional annual cost to the national health service in England following the changes to the National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remissions of Charges) Regulations from 6 April 2004 is as followsprovision of free sight tests—around £6,000; provision of free dental treatment—around £70,000 (the additional cost of provision of free dental check-ups has not been identified separately; and loss of prescription charge revenue—around £580,000.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on childcare provision for NHS staff. [162997]

Mr. Hutton

The National Health Service childcare strategy has a key role to play in the recruitment, retention and return of staff to the NHS.

The NHS Plan introduced the idea of a childcare strategy, as part of the improving working lives standard. National targets were set for 150 new on-site nurseries providing an additional 7,500 subsidised places, and for all NHS staff to have access to a childcare co-ordinator. Over £70 million has been made available for this over the three years from April 2001.

So far, 140 new nursery schemes, new builds or extensions to existing nurseries, have been opened or are in the pipeline, which will provide an extra 6,000 new nursery places for NHS staff. Further schemes are being considered.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children of NHS staff use NHS-provided childcare facilities. [163059]

Mr. Hutton

The national health service childcare strategy has a key role to play in the recruitment, retention and return of staff to the NHS.

We do not keep central figures on the numbers of NHS staff using NHS provided childcare facilities.

The NHS Plan introduced the idea of a childcare strategy, as part of the Improving Working Lives standard. National targets were set for 150 new on-site nurseries providing additional 7,500 subsidised places, and for all NHS staff to have access to a childcare co-ordinator. Over £70 million has been made available for this over the three years from April 2001.

So far, 140 new nursery schemes— new builds or extensions to existing nurseries— have been opened or are in the pipeline. These will provide an extra 6,000 new nursery places for NHS staff. Further schemes are being considered.

Mr. Yeo

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of calls to NHS Direct were resolved by NHS Direct without the need for further NHS intervention in the last year for which figures are available. [162055]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Last year NHS Direct handled 6,427,321 calls and the proportion of these calls to NHS Direct that were resolved by NHS Direct without the need for further NHS intervention in the last year for which figures are available was 44.3 per cent.

NHS hospital and community health services: qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff in the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority area as at 30 September each specified year
Headcount
NHS hospital 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Total 5,701 5,796 5,956 6,248 6,589 7,029 7,170
5AA South Manchester PCT 1 1 1 1 89 105 109
5CL Central Manchester PCT 1 1 1 1 116 152 152
5CR North Manchester PCT 1 1 1 1 71 82 89
5CX Trafford South PCT 1 1 1 1 5 7 6
5F4 Heywood and Middleton PC1 1 1 1 1 2 I 3
5F5 Salford PCT 1 1 1 1 106 137 155
5F6 Trafford North PCT 1 1 1 1 1 2 4

Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of new nursing recruits into the NHS have been recruited through recruitment agencies which have not signed up to the Government's code of practice on ethical recruitment; [170315]

(2) what percentage of all nursing recruits into the NHS have been through recruitment agencies. [170316]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: This information is not held centrally.

National health service trusts should use only those commercial agencies which comply with the Code of Practice and which are listed on the Department's website.

Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the country of origin was of nurses recruited into the NHS from overseas in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [170317]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: The Department does not collect information on the country of origin of nurses recruited to the national health service.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council holds information on the number of admissions of nurses and midwives to the register by country. This information is available on the Council's website on www.nmc-uk.org.

Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure the Government can guarantee that no recruitment agencies are used by the NHS to recruit nurses which have not signed up to the Government's code of practice on ethical recruitment. [170318]

Mr. Hutton

[holding answer 4 May 2004]: National health service trusts should use only those commercial agencies which comply with the Code of Practice and which are listed on the Department's website.

Strategic health authorities (SHAs) are working with trusts to ensure they comply with the Code of Practice and only work with agencies who are compliant.

This is in line with the government policy as it is for primary care trusts in partnership with SHAs and other local stakeholders to determine how best to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.

Jim Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS therapists were located in Heywood and Middleton in each of the last seven years. [168485]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The information requested is shown in the table.

NHS hospital and community health services: qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff in the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority area as at 30 September each specified year
Headcount
NHS hospital 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
5F7 Stockport PCT 1 1 1 1 112 124 116
5HG Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 1 1 1 1 1 311 335
5HQ Bolton PCT 1 1 1 1 1 163 191
5J5 Oldham PCT 1 1 1 1 1 122 133
5JX Bury PCT 1 1 1 1 1 94 91
5JY Rochdale PCT 1 1 1 1 1 137 144
5LH Tameside and Glossop PCT 1 1 1 1 1—i 128 132
QC3 Manchester HA 0 0 0 1 1 1 1
QC6 Salford and Trafford HA 0 0 0 11 1 1 1
QC8 Stockport HA 0 0 1 3 1 1 1
QC9 West Pennine HA 1 1 1 2 4 1 1
QCT Bury and Rochdale HA 1 1 11 12 10 1 1
QDA Wigan and Bolton HA 1 1 1 1 4 1 1
RBU Central Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 673 668 705 730 1 1 1
RBV Christie Hospital NHS Trust 265 268 281 288 303 320 329
REX Oldham NHS Trust 347 346 360 393 417 1— 1—
REZ Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust 244 249 243 259 308 1 1
RJY Wigan and Leigh Health Services NHS Trust 488 506 516 528 1 1 1
RM2 South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust 534 550 561 562 554 548 549
RM3 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust 441 460 458 468 485 513 476
RM4 Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust 281 288 306 323 337 340 315
RM5 Mancunian Community Health NHS Trust 282 292 277 304 1 1 1
RMC Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust 332 350 360 397 416 421 428
RMH Mental Health Services of Salford NHS Trust 123 130 139 145 156 194 1
RMJ Salford Community Healthcare NHS Trust 109 110 116 109 1 1 1
RMK North Manchester Healthcare NHS Trust 286 267 272 275 256 1 1
RMM Community Healthcare Bolton NHS Trust 121 131 140 158 173 1 1
RMN Bury Healthcare NHS Trust 216 225 230 242 267 1 1
RMP Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust 158 162 159 168 184 200 221
RMQ Tameside and Glossop Community/Priority Services NHS Trust 140 140 148 160 159 1 1
RMS Stockport Acute Services NHS Trust 292 286 295 1 1 1 1
RMT Stockport Healthcare NHS Trust 180 177 186 1 1 1 1
RQ7 Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 187 189 191 211 1 1 1
RRF Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 615 276 289
RT2 Pennine Care NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 1 146 187
RW3 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 923 1,045 1,115
RW6 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 1 900 853
RWJ Stockport NHS Trust 1 1 1 499 396 420 400
RXV Bolton Salford And Trafford Mental Health NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 1 1 213
TAA Manchester Mental Health Partnership 1 1 1 1 120 1 1
TAE Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust 1 1 1 1 1 141 135
1Not applicable.
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

James Purnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Stalybridge and Hyde in each of the last seven years. [168772]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The table shows the number of doctors and nurses within the Greater Manchester

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2Qualified Nursing, Midwifery and health visiting staff and Practice Nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)3for Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority and specified organisations
Numbers (headcount)
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Greater Manchester
Doctors1 5,322 5,441 5,634 5,695 5,834 5,951 5,965
of which:
HCHS Doctors1 3,837 3,957 4,124 4,172 4,315 4,440 4,384
General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2 1,485 1,484 1,510 1,523 1,519 1,511 1,581

Strategic Health Authority area, the number of general medical practitioners and practice nurses in Stalybridge and Hyde and the number of doctors and nurses in the Pennine Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust (including its predecessor organisations) each year since 1997.

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2Qualified Nursing, Midwifery and health visiting staff and Practice Nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs)3for Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority and specified organizations
Numbers (headcount)
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Nurses 19,551 19,834 19,818 20,087 20,213 20,982 21,609
of which:
Qualified Nursing, Midwifery and health visiting staff 18,678 18,907 18,767 19,163 19,258 20,053 20,674
Practice Nurses 873 927 1,051 924 955 929 935
Tameside with Glossop PCG
Doctors1 4 4 114 114 4 4 4
Nurses 4 4 89 72 4 4 4
Tameside and Glossop PCT
Doctors1 4 4 4 4 118 127 138
Nurses 82 422 425
Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust
Doctors1 118 124 129 146 180 178 193
Nurses 581 688 698 666 962 930 908
Pennine Care NHS Trust
Doctors1 4 4 4 4 4 68 81
Nurses 4 4 4 4 637 797
1Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals.
2All Practitioners (excluding retainers) include Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars, Salaried Doctors (Para. 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Scheme GPs and GP Returners.
3UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried Gps.
4Not available.
Notes:
1. Headcount Practice Nurse figures are estimated for these years.
2. Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–99.
Sources:
Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.
Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Burnley in each of the last seven years. [167952]

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Cumbria and Lancashire SHA area 3,352 3,486 3,595 3,706 3,758 3,893 4,279
of which:
Total of specified organizations—Burnley 624 637 675 698 733 701 759
5G8 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PC r 1 1 1 1 1 116 124
REU Burnley Health Care NHS Trust 360 374 374 389 403 277
RMB Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care NHS Trust2 264 263 301 309 330 308 1
RXR East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust 1 1 1 1 1 1 635
1Not applicable
2Mental Health elements transferred to Lancashire Care Trust from 1 April 2002.
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Preston in each of the last seven years. [168112]

NHS hospital and community health services: All qualified scientific, therapeutic & technical staff in the specified organisations as at 30 September
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Cumbria and Lancashire SHA area 3,352 3,486 3,595 3,706 3,758 3,893 4,279
of which:
Total of specified organizations—Preston 589 628 651 682 637 956 1,097
5HD Preston PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 93 112
RJU Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust1 211 218 216 222 169 n/a n/a

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data relating to the numbers of therapists and scientists on a constituency basis is not gathered centrally. The data shown in the table relates to national health service organisations serving the Preston area.

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data relating to the numbers of therapists and scientists on a constituency basis is not gathered centrally. The data shown in the table relates to National Health Service organisations serving the Burnley area.

NHS hospital and community health services: All qualified scientific, therapeutic & technical stuff in the specified organisations as as 30 September
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
RMF Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 378 410 435 460 468 n/a n/a
RW5 Lancashire Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 260 259
RXN Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 603 726
1Mental Health elements transferred to Lancashire Care Trust from 1 April 2002. n/a—not applicable
Source:
Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Mr. Hendrick

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Preston in each of the last seven years. [168113]

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers) for Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority and specified organisations serving the Preston area
As at 30 September
All Doctors 1
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 3,173 3,283 3,263 3,380 3,350 3,413 3,494
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care2 201 211 219 239 250 238 n/a
Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services2 61 62 69 74 67 n/a n/a
Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust2 211 232 238 280 232 230 n/a
Communicare NHS Trust2 30 31 31 30 24 n/a n/a
Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust2 47 50 49 48 53 n/a n/a
North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust2.3 n/a n/a 41 44 16 n/a n/a
Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 106 115 123 118 142 n/a n/a
Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 312 339 316 355 348 n/a n/a
Lancashire Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 108 101
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 484 482
Preston PCG n/a n/a 67 69 n/a n/a n/a
Rossendale PCG n/a n/a 33 31 n/a n/a n/a
Preston PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a 73 93 102
1Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part-time in hospitals
2Mental Health elements transferred to Lancashire Care Trust from 1 April 2002
3Service for West Lancashire: includes services provided at West Lancashire until 31 March 1999 and excludes services transferred to Mersey Care 1 April 2001
n/a—not available
Note:
Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–99

Qualified Nursing, Midwifery & health visiting staff and Practice Nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and Equivalents (UPEs) for Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority and specified organisations serving the Preston area
As at 30 September numbers (headcount)
Nurses
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Cumbria and Lancashire SHA 13,359 13,400 13,859 13,494 13,794 15,011 15,049
Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Health Care2 1,260 1,274 1,547 1,189 1,206 1,161 n/a
Blackpool Wyre and Fylde Community Health Services2 845 865 871 868 910 n/a n/a
Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust2 1,382 1,369 1,358 1,364 1,536 1,185 103
Communicare NHS Trust2 472 483 509 522 387 n/a n/a
Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust2 394 436 464 446 455 n/a n/a
North Sefton and West Lancashire Community NHS Trust2.3 n/a n/a 453 475 72 n/a n/a
Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust 701 746 775 772 603 :n/a n/a
Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 1,272 1,234 1,264 1,256 1,410 70 69
Lancashire Care NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,002 1,021
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,915 1,928
Preston PCG n/a n/a 49 56 n/a n/a n/a
Rossendale PCG n/a n/a 22 22 n/a n/a n/a
Preston PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 193 233
1UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried Gps.
2Mental Health elements transferred to Lancashire Care Trust from 1 April 2002
3Service for West Lancashire: includes services provided at West Lancashire until 31 March
1999 and excludes services transferred to Mersey Care 1 April 2001
n/a—not available

Miss Melanie Johnson

Information on the number of national health service doctors and nurses is not gathered on a constituency basis. The tables show information based on NHS organisations serving the Preston area.

Note:

Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–99

Sources:

Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Department of Health Non-medical Workforce Census