HC Deb 11 December 1996 vol 287 cc233-4W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timetable for the independent review of the vitamin B12 unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS trust; who are the members of the review body; and what are the terms of reference of the review. [8430]

Mr. Horam

The inquiry into the work of the vitamin B12 unit at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital is the responsibility of, and has been commissioned by, the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare national health service trust.

The members of the inquiry are Professor Albert Aynsley-Green, Nuffield professor of child health, and Professor Brian Neville, professor of paediatric neurosciences at the institute of child health, university of London. It is intended that the inquiry will finish by March 1997 and report to the trust board in April.

The terms of reference are: 1. To review the process of the hospital's clinical management of the patients for whom the vitamin B12 unit has provided advice or resources for investigation from 1 April 1994 to date.

Number and average waiting time for specified operations
1993–94 1994–95 11995–96
Average waiting time Average waiting time Average waiting time
Number (days) Number (days) Number (days)
Hip replacements 1,649 161 1,842 152 1,793 138
Hysterectomies 3,487 85 3,427 86 3,542 91
Cataract extractions 8,489 170 9,374 138 10,491 145
Tonsillectomies 4,606 171 4,756 197 5,224 167
Kidney transplants 9 99 8 23 10 24
Hernia operations 3,748 91 3,918 103 3,975 110
1 Data for 1995–96 are not comparable to earlier years as records are not yet available for all hospitals.

  1. 2. In particular to advise whether reasonable steps have been taken by the trust to ensure the appropriate treatment of the patients according to the principles of evidence-based medicine and effective and safe healthcare.
  2. 3. As necessary, to consider and review issues which may arise from an NHS point of view with regard to the management aspects of clinical research and the treatment associated with it.
  3. 4. To advise on the future NHS management arrangements by the trust for patients whose neurodevelopmental diagnosis and/or treatment may involve the services of the vitamin B12 unit.