§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations(a) by region and (b) by health 649W authority were (i) cancelled and (ii) re-scheduled due to poor nutritional status of patients in the age ranges (a) 0 –15 years, (b) 16 –59 years, (c) 60 –75 years and (d) 75 years over in each quarter of the last five years for which figures are available. [24035]
§ Mr. HuttonData on the number of operations cancelled at the last minute and on the number of patients not admitted within one month of their cancellation, by region and health authority, for the time periods requested, are available in the Library.
Data are not collected on the reasons for last minute cancellations, or on the age range of patients cancelled.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, columns 682 –83W, on nutrition, what (a) targets, (b) guidelines and (c) financial assistance he will provide to ensure health authorities address issues of malnutrition under the single assessment process. [24041]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 19 December 2001]Guidance on the single assessment process sets targets for implementation which will raise the standard of assessment for all older people. Nutrition and diet are specified as one of the domains of need that are covered in the overview type of assessment, and which may go on to be explored in more detail in a specialist assessment. It is anticipated that resources for the implementation of the single assessment process will be found within existing budgets.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has given to the Department for Education and Skills regarding promoting nutrition in schools. [24671]
§ Yvette CooperThe Department works closely with the Department for Education and Skills on promoting nutrition in schools, principally through the Food in Schools programme. This aims to bring together all food
Numbers of hospitals in the acute and non-acute sectors, by region where the six elements of the Better Hospital Food programme will be in place by 31 December 2001 Region Element South West London Eastern South East Northern and Yorkshire Northwestern Trent WestMidlands Acute Number of acute hospitals/region 41 46 35 63 52 46 26 36 Snack boxes 20 25 15 33 28 28 20 20 Ward kitchens 22 24 14 38 31 26 22 24 Move main meal 16 34 7 31 34 24 17 21 Menu format 11 19 5 10 22 16 6 19 Leading chef 16 27 16 21 29 26 18 17 Additional snacks 15 29 19 37 23 26 21 25 Non-acute and PCT Number of non-acute hospitals/region 117 69 62 105 67 56 62 63 Snack boxes 71 16 31 33 28 27 11 20 Ward kitchens 100 50 53 73 40 38 30 51 Move main meal 51 34 23 23 35 18 22 29 Menu format 56 18 15 45 28 4 20 38 Leading chef 71 35 35 55 45 27 37 33 Additional snacks 89 56 42 70 42 14 55 58 Note:
Certain non-acute hospitals have been given flexibility to vary the requirements of the programme to reflect the specific needs of elderly mentally ill, adult mental health and learning disabilities clients.
650Wrelated initiatives in schools and after-school clubs to improve both health and learning, and ensure consistent messages are being given about health and nutrition.
In addition, the Healthy Schools Programme is a joint initiative between the Department and the Department for Education and Skills. This includes healthy eating as part of the National Healthy School Standard. To meet the standard schools need to present consistent messages about healthy eating, promote the consumption of healthier foods at lunch and breaktimes and include education on healthy eating in the taught curriculum.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to increase the number of nutritionists in the NHS. [24303]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department does not collect data on the number of nutritionists employed in the national health service and has not set a target for increasing the number to be employed.
§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 13 November 2001,Official Report, columns 682 –83W, on nutrition, (a) how many and (b) which of the six key targets under the Better Hospital Food Programme by (i) region and (ii) health authority will be fully delivered by the end of December. [24040]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 19 December 2001]The information available, though not in the precise format requested, is shown in the table.
The better hospital food programme forms part of the NHS Plan, and is a long-term programme designed to raise standards across the national health service, backed by the provision of an additional £38.5 million over four years. Much has been achieved since the publication of the programme in May 2001. Since hospitals started from different points, some have made faster progress than others, but the NHS has responded positively and will continue to work to implement the better hospital food programme for the benefit of all patients.
651W