§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of Agenda for Change on the private sector in health care in Northern Ireland. [175212]
§ Angela SmithThe new HPSS pay system, Agenda for Change, has been designed around jobs within the NHS across the UK, and when implemented it will only directly be applied to jobs that are within the range of NHS organisations. It is acknowledged however, that any amendment to the terms and conditions of employment of HPSS personnel could have implications for the terms and conditions of staff employed within the private or voluntary health sector.
While the setting of pay rates and defining of terms and conditions for such employees is a matter for the individual independent employers concerned, my Department recognises the financial pressures facing independent sector nursing and residential homes and has made provision for above inflation increases in the regional tariffs over the past three years. This has meant for example an increase of almost 20 per cent. in the weekly fee paid by Trusts for a nursing home place for an elderly person since 2001–02.
The Department has also commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake research into the specific costs of providing nursing, residential home and domiciliary care in Northern Ireland. The consultants 1647W are expected to present their final report in June 2004, in time for the research to inform budget decisions from April 2005
§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people on Northern Ireland waiting lists have had medical treatment in other parts of the United Kingdom in each of the last five years. [175532]
§ Angela SmithThe following table shows the number of patients from Northern Ireland who have received medical treatment in other parts of the United Kingdom, in the years 1999–2000 to 2003–04, as part of waiting list initiatives.
Number of patients transferred to UK for treatment 1999–20001 90 2000–01 145 2001–02 268 2002–03 269 2003–04 164 1 Eastern Health and Social Services Board and Northern Health and Social Services Board were unable to provide figures for 1999–2000. Source: Health and Social Services Boards.
§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many trained nursing staff from outside the United Kingdom are working in Northern Ireland's hospitals. [175533]
§ Angela SmithI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Strangford (Mrs. Robinson) on 18 May 2004,Official Report, column 943W, Question Reference 173742.