HC Deb 03 December 1998 vol 321 cc276-7W
Mr. Opik

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what resources his Department provides to Dyfed Powys Health Authority for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; and if he will make a statement. [61914]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

In 1998–99 Dyfed Powys received £237.8 million in discretionary resources, £8.4 million, or 3.6 per cent. more than in 1997–98. It is a matter for the health authority to determine how these funds should be used to provide an appropriate range of health services to its resident population, taking into account the pattern of local health need.

Mr. Opik

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what the average provision of rheumatologists per hundred thousand people is for Welsh health authorities; and if he will make a statement; [61916]

(2) how many rheumatologists are employed by the Dyfed Powys Health Authority; and if he will make a statement. [61915]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

Information on hospital medical staff directly employed by the NHS in Wales is collected in an annual census relating to staff in post at 30 September. Health authorities do not directly employ hospital medical staff. The number and rate of rheumatologists employed by NHS trusts, grouped by health authority ares, are shown in the following table. It should be noted, however, that health authorities are free to purchase services from any health provider.

Consultants Other staff Total
Number2 Rate3 Number3 Rate2 Number2 Rate3
Health authority area
Bro Taf 3.9 5.3 7.3 9.9 11.2 15.2
Dyfed Powys 0.3 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.8
Gwent 2.4 4.3 2.0 3.6 4.4 7.9
Morgannwg 2.4 4.8 1.5 3.0 3.9 7.8
North Wales 3.0 4.6 1.7 2.6 4.7 7.2
Wales 12.0 4.1 12.6 4.3 24.6 8.4
1 Includes other grades of staff involved in clinical work
2 Whole-time equivalents
3 Due to small overall numbers figures are shown per 1,000,000 population

Mr. Opik

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to review the current provision of care for sufferers from arthritic conditions; and if he will make a statement. [61917]

Mr. Jon Owen Jones

The provision for the care of those suffering from arthritic conditions is the responsibility of health authorities whose responsibility it is to assess the needs of their local population and provide appropriate services to meet them while taking account of their resources, priorities and other pressures.