§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls the health information service has received in each year since 1992; and how much funding it has received in each year. [40565]
§ Mr. HoramThe health information service was established in April 1992. Table A provides details of the number of calls received by the service since its establishment and table B provides information on the cost of providing the service for the financial years 1992–93 to 1996–97.
Table A: Number of calls received by the health information service between April 1992 and September 1996 Year Number of calls 1992 51,252 1993 136,293 1994 275,404 1995 457,187 1996 (January-September) 442,424
Table B: Cost of providing the service between 1992–93 and 1996–97 Financial year Cost £ 1992–93 1,507,643 1993–94 1,881,998 1994–95 2,045,338 1995–96 2,337,766 1996–971 2,718,933 1 Projected expenditure for 1996–97.
§ Mr. HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are followed in respect of monitoring the subjects of inquiry or complaint to the health information service. [40566]
§ Mr. HoramHealth authorities have responsibility for securing the provision of the freephone health information service in line with health service guidance HSG(95)44, copies of which are available in the Library.
Arrangements for monitoring calls made to the health information service are for determination between individual health authorities and their health information service providers. However, any system of monitoring must respect the callers right to confidentiality.
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