§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Merseyside Health Action Zone programme will tackle ill health, accidents and violence due to alcohol abuse. [94634]
§ Mr. HuttonMerseyside Health Action Zone has recognised the effect of problem drinking on the health and quality of life for individuals, their families and the 1027W wider community. The HAZ has developed plans to address this issue, which include locally developed interventions whereby each district on Merseyside is developing their own schemes to deal with alcohol, linking to the Drug Action Team Plan and Health Improvement Programmes. The "Arrest Referral Scheme" is a Mersey-wide proposal that will work closely with Merseyside Police and the Safer Merseyside Partnership single regeneration budget to provide support to individuals who have been arrested and to put them in touch with relevant services relating to drugs, alcohol, housing, debt and benefit advice and health care services.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Merseyside Health Action Zone programme will empower people to manage common illnesses. [94632]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Merseyside Health Action Zone programme includes a number of interventions, which will empower people to manage common illnesses. These will complement other Government initiatives like NHS Direct and walk-in centres. An example of a HAZ scheme being developed allows pharmacists to dispense free over-the-counter medication to eligible patients for the treatment of colds and minor ailments without the need to visit their general practitioner.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the Merseyside Health Action Zone will ensure equal access to quality services for cardio respiratory disease, cancer, infectious disease and mental health. [94631]
§ Mr. HuttonEnsuring equal access to quality services is a main theme of the Merseyside Health Action Zone. Schemes are being developed and implemented to tackle these major causes of ill health. HAZ funding is being used in an innovative way to set up "Community Cardiology Teams" that will help optimise the care of the estimated 600,000 coronary heart disease sufferers on Merseyside. The HAZ has a further scheme to improve the uptake of influenza vaccination within vulnerable groups e.g. people with chronic heart or respiratory disease.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to improve and modernise health services on(a) Merseyside and (b) in Sefton. [94652]
§ Mr. HuttonMerseyside Health Action Zone is already developing and implementing plans to improve and modernise health services across the whole of Merseyside, including Sefton. The current schemes include £550,000 to tackle coronary heart disease and a further £500,000 to invest in cancer services across Merseyside. The HAZ has also identified £250,000 to support the centralisation of hospital based infectious disease services for Merseyside.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress of the Merseyside Health Action Zone. [94650]
§ Mr. HuttonMerseyside Health Action Zone is the largest and most complex in the country. Significant energy is being invested in building the partnership across the whole of Merseyside. The HAZ is already implementing schemes both to modernise services and tackle the underlying causes of ill health. Schemes include work to further tackle heart disease and cancer.