§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure that every hospital that cares for older people with strokes will have established clinical audit systems by April 2003, as required by the National Framework for Older People. [32975]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department's Priorities and Planning Framework 2002–03, issued 6 December 2001 sets the achievement of the milestones of the National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People within one of the three major priorities for local action. The initial milestones set for the improvements in stroke care, provide that
by April 2002 every general hospital which cares for people with stroke will have plans to introduce a specialised stroke service as described in the stroke service model from 2004;by April 2003 every hospital which cares for older people with stroke will have established clinical audit systems to ensure delivery of the Royal College of Physicians clinical guidelines for stroke care.The achievement of each of the milestones will be monitored.
The NSF for Older People recommended that the clinical audit methodology developed by the Royal College of Physicians be used as the basis for agreeing 1050W local priorities for action in ensuring the establishment of integrated stroke services and for the continued auditing of service improvement.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources will be made available to support the continuation of the National Sentinel Audit for Stroke. [32976]
§ Jacqui SmithThe Department provided £233,000 for the initial development of the stroke audit. Responsibility and funding for the National Sentinel Audits was transferred from the Department to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in December 1999. Following a review last year by NICE of their completed audits topics, the Department is considering a proposal to commission further work on the stroke audit.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to further(a) his Department's policy research and (b) the NHS Research and Development Programme to deal with strokes; and if he will make a statement. [32974]
§ Jacqui SmithWe have set standards to improve the provision of integrated stroke services in the National Service Framework for Older People, and research will underpin this strategy. The Department continues to support stroke research through the national health service health technology assessment programme (HTA), the Department's policy research programme and other NHS research and development programmes. In addition to the new research referred to in the reply given on 1 February 2002,Official Report, column 624W, the HTA programme has recently advertised further calls for proposals for primary research in the treatment of high blood pressure immediately after stroke.
The NHS research and development programmes use a range of methods to identify, prioritise and commission work in all areas including stroke. Further details can be found on the website www.doh.gov.uk/research.