HC Deb 18 January 2000 vol 342 cc419-20W
Mr. Dobbin

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans are in place to cope with a possible increase in respiratory-associated illnesses in elderly people this winter. [104165]

Mr. Hutton

Local Winter Planning Groups (LWPG) were established in April 1999 to co-ordinate the planning and provision of health and social care services over the winter and the millennium. Each LWPG includes health authorities, social services, National Health Service trusts, primary care groups, out-of-hours and deputising services, NHS Direct, police and fire services, the voluntary and private sector, community health councils and other local authority departments.

As part of the planning process LWPG's were required to submit robust plans at the end of September 1999 setting out how services would respond to increased winter demand including that linked to respiratory-associated illnesses. The plans, which were assessed by the NHS regional offices, together with visits to a number of health authorities, showed a high state of readiness for the winter.

Many viruses contribute to respiratory-associated illness in older people in the winter and influenza is the only one we have an effective vaccine against. In 1998, we extended the annual immunisation programme for influenza to offer free flu vaccine to everyone aged 75 and over. Flu immunisation was well publicised. The Chief Medical Officer launched "Flu Awareness Week" at a press conference in October which resulted in widespread media coverage and provided a useful opportunity to get

Mr. O'Hara

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the last year for which figures are available, how many people in each NHS region on NHS waiting lists are aged(a) under 29, (b) 30 to 49, (c) 50 to 64, (d) 65 to 74, (e) 75 to 84 and (f) 85 years and over. [103955]

Mr. Denham

Data are not collected by age group on the number of patients in each National Health Service region currently on National Health Service waiting lists. The total number of patients on NHS waiting lists is, however, collected by each region and is shown in the table.

key messages across. Many health authorities also took an active role in promoting flu immunisation locally last year.

Also, as part of planning for this winter, NHS Trust have arrangements in place to provide more intensive care and high dependency beds than ever before.

Informing the public of the range of healthcare options available and encouraging them to use the appropriate service has also been a key component of planning for the winter. General campaigns of particular relevance to older people have been: "Keep Warm, Keep Well" which provides advice to older and other vulnerable people on how to keep themselves and their homes warm in winter and "Choose the Right Remedy this Winter" which encourages the public to consider all the options open to them when they are unwell such as self care, pharmacy, and NHS Direct.

The NHS and local authorities have planned well for this winter and the current peaks in demand are being managed.

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