§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure he plans to undertake in 2002–03 to encourage public awareness of hepatitis C; and what proportion of that expenditure is planned for advertising on television. [83018]
§ Ms BlearsWe have made approximately £430,000 available in 2002–03 to fund work connected with increasing professional and public awareness. We do not anticipate that this work will include television advertising.
§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the number of carriers of hepatitis C in the UK; and what proportion of that total are likely to develop(a) cirrhosis of the liver and (b) cancer of the liver. [83019]
§ Ms BlearsIt is estimated that 0.4 per cent., of the general population in England, about 200,000 people, have chronic hepatitis C infection. Information on the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C infection in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can be obtained from the respective devolved Administrations.
762WStudies suggest that about 20 per cent., of individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection develop cirrhosis after 20–30 years. Of these, about 1–4 per cent., per year will develop primary liver cancer.
§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish an expert group to consider the case for a compensation scheme for those persons infected with hepatitis C from NHS blood products. [83367]
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding is being made available, and over what timescale, for the implementation of the hepatitis C strategy published by his Department in August. [83551]
§ Ms BlearsI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Dr. Naysmith) on 19 November 2002,Official Report, column 102W.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue guidance to primary care trusts on increasing the priority given to the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C. [83552]
§ Ms BlearsConsultation on the Department paper, "Hepatitis C Strategy for England", ended on 15 November 2002. We will be publishing a hepatitis C action plan based on responses to the consultation paper and comments received at recent meetings with stakeholders in the next few months. As part of this work, we will be considering the need to issue guidance on hepatitis C to the national health service.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will issue guidance to General Practitioners drawing attention to the risk of hepatitis C infection through needle misuse, and promoting good health practice among those most at risk. [83553]
§ Ms BlearsThe Department issued a briefing pack entitled "Hepatitis C: essential information for professionals" to all general medical practitioners and practice nurses in England in March 2002. The information contained in the briefing pack includes advice on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C infection. The briefing pack also draws attention to further sources of information such as the Department's publication, "Hepatitis C— guidance for those working with drug users". The professional briefing paper and patient leaflet contained in the briefing pack are on the Department's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/hepatitisc
The briefing pack supplements regional professional awareness-raising conferences held for primary care professionals in February and March 2002. Further conferences are planned for 2003.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has made of the costs of an education campaign in England and Wales to alert the public to the risks of hepatitis C infection. [83554]
§ Ms BlearsWe have currently allocated £0.9 million of central funding over 2002–03 and 2003–04 to raise professional and public awareness of hepatitis C in 763W England. Information relating to Wales can be obtained from the National Assembly for Wales. Funding for future years has yet to be determined.