§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on which basis the star rating system of triage in accident and emergency departments has been calculated; and what weight is given to(a) the quality and (b) speed of assessment. [21959]
§ Mr. HoramThe basis for star ratings for performance on the patients charter immediate assessment standard is set out in the national health service performance guide. The figure given for each unit is the number of patients seen and assessed by a qualified person within five minutes of arrival at the A and E department, as a percentage of the total number arriving. Star ratings indicate that the Audit Commissions' auditors were satisfied with the data collection systems.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of accident and emergency departments operating triage(a) 24 hours and (b) 12 hours a day. [21953]
§ Mr. HoramIn the first three quarters of the year 1995–96, 93 per cent. of patients were seen and assessed by a nurse or doctor within five minutes of their arrival at the A and E department.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the performance of patients(a) seen by a triage nurse before being registered and (b) seen after registration in accident and emergency departments. [21957]
§ Mr. HoramThis information is not collected centrally. The organisation of A and E departments is a matter for local decision.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the relationship between performance star rating and the quality of care received by the patient in accident and emergency departments. [21956]
§ Mr. HoramThe patients charter sets out standards on quality of service for the national health service. One such standard is the length of time spent waiting for initial assessment in an A and E department.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has asked the NHS chief executive to review with health authorities their plans for emergency services. This review will examine the scope for developing further standards which are accepted by professional staff as relevant indicators of quality.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what sample size was used in the study of triage in accident and emergency departments. [21958]
425W
§ Mr. HoramI understand that the hon. Lady is referring to the "Study of the Value of Initial Patient Assessment within the Accident and Emergency Department and the Most Effective Way of Achieving this Activity", copies of which have been placed in the Library. This study was commissioned by the patients charter unit of this Department and conducted by Mr. Gary J. Jones, who collected information from 46 hospitals.
§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency department services at the royal infirmary, Halifax; [22475]
(2) if the accident and emergency department of the royal infirmary, Halifax, is meeting patients charter requirements for waiting times in accident and emergency services; [22529]
(3) in respect of the accident and emergency department at the royal infirmary, Halifax, what vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants. [22474]
§ Mr. HoramAccident and emergency services in Halifax are a matter for West Yorkshire health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Mr. Peter Wood, for details.
Details of the proportion of patients assessed within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.
Vacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the hospital are a matter for Calderdale Healthcare national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Allan Templeton, chairman of the trust, for details.
§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what vacancies there are currently for(a) nurses, (b) junior doctors, (c) middle-range doctors and (d) consultants at the accident and emergency department at Dryburn hospital, Durham; if the department is meeting patients charter requirements for accident and emergency waiting times; and if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency services at the hospital. [22224]
§ Mr. HoramVacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the hospital are a matter for North Durham Acute Hospitals national health service trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Colin P. Douglas, chairman of the trust, for details.
Details of the proportion of patients assessed within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.
Accident and emergency services in North Durham are a matter for North Durham health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Professor John I. Clarke, for details.
§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of accident and emergency departments in Greater Manchester with reference to the findings of the Audit Commission report. [22435]
426W
§ Mr. HoramAccident and emergency services in Greater Manchester are a matter for the six local health authorities: Bury and Rochdale, Manchester, Salford and Trafford, Stockport, West Pennine, and Wigan and Bolton. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the respective health authorities for details.
§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants in respect of the accident and emergency department at the Homerton hospital, east London; if the department is meeting patients charter requirements for waiting times in accident and emergency; and if he will make a statement about the future of accident and emergency services at the hospital. [22387]
§ Mr. HoramVacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at the hospital are a matter for Homerton Hospital NHS trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Michael Haines, chairman of the trust, for details.
Details of the proportion of patients assessed with five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.
Accident and emergency services in east London are a matter for the East London and the City health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the authority, Frances Heidensohn, for details.
§ Mr. EasthamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies there are for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants in respect of the accident and emergency department at North Manchester general hospital; if the department is meeting the patients charter requirements for waiting times; and if he will make a statement about the future of these services at the hospital. [22390]
§ Mr. HoramVacancies for nurses, junior doctors, middle-range doctors and consultants at North Manchester general hospital are a matter for North Manchester Healthcare NHS trust. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. David Wilson, chairman of the trust, for details.
Details of the proportion of patients assessed within five minutes of arrival in accident and emergency departments are contained in the NHS performance guide 1994–95, copies of which are available in the Library.
Accident and emergency services in Manchester are a matter for Manchester health commission. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of the commission, Professor R. D. H. Boyd, for details.