HC Deb 07 February 2002 vol 379 cc1169-70W
Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of re-stocking with re-usable instruments for tonsillectomy following the hazard notice of October 2001. [32777]

Yvette Cooper

The estimated cost of re-stocking with re-usable instruments would have been no more than £1.4 million.

This estimate is based on 150 trusts undertaking tonsillectomy operations, with eight sets of instruments per trust at an average cost per set of £1,200. However, feedback from trusts indicates that a significant percentage of them have retained their original re-usable sets. Therefore, the actual figure may be much less.

Dr. Murrison

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he had with surgeons on the acceptability of the disposable instruments purchased for tonsillectomy in 2001. [32782]

Health authorities with highest expenditure per capita
Number of patients waiting for in-patient treatment
Name Expend per capita (£) Over six months Per 1,000 head of weighted population Over 12 months Per 1,000 head of weighted population
Morecambe Bay HA 1,346.04 1,085 3.44 112 0.36
Camden and Islington HA 1,067.88 1,147 2.28 236 0.47
Sefton HA 1,040.25 1,811 6.06 385 1.29
Dorset HA 1,023.69 47 0.07 11 0.02
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 1,011.24 838 1.66 92 0.18
Bromley HA 971.74 1,913 6.54 301 1.03
Barnet HA 959.87 1,298 3.93 217 0.66
East Surrey HA 958.66 3,009 7.89 874 2.29
Sheffield HA 956.59 1,868 3.26 57 0.10
Croydon HA 925.44 2,145 6.55 625 1.91

Health authorities with lowest expenditure per capita
Number of patients waiting for in-patient treatment
Name Expend per capita (£) Over six months Per 1,000 head of weighted population Over 12 months Per 1,000 head of weighted population
Stockport HA 759.28 1,389 4.96 192 0.69
Solihull HA 756.17 473 2.44, 17 0.09
Buckinghamshire HA 755.09 3,419 5.60 681 1.12
Hillingdon HA 753.76 987 3.98 200 0.81
St. Helens and Knowsley HA 749.06 1,782 4.72 329 0.87
West Pennine HA 746.22 1,939 4.02 279 0.58
North Derbyshire HA 744.33 1,649 4.53 35 0.10

Yvette Cooper

The National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency undertook the procurement process with the support of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngolygists (BAO), whose members were regularly consulted about the acceptability and quality of the products.

In February 2001, all BAO members were invited to attend an inspection of the sample instruments that had been submitted. The feedback from this event was used to determine a shortlist of suppliers.

Instruments from short listed companies were used and evaluated by surgeons selected at random before final decisions were made about which products would be supplied.

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