§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the relevant data available to his Department which have not been made available to the CJD Incidents Panel. [15299]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 15 November 2001]: The chairman of the CJD Incidents Panel requested in writing a copy of "the report on standards of decontamination in England and Wales". He has also requested the results of the subsequent comprehensive survey of decontamination standards.
A preliminary survey of some hospitals and other health premises carried out last year informed the Department that there was considerable variation of decontamination standards in the national health service. It demonstrated the need to invest in sterile services and for a comprehensive look at standards. As a result, a full survey started in October 2000 and a £200 million investment programme was announced in January 2001 to improve decontamination within the NHS over the next two years. A report on the findings of the surveys, including the snapshot survey, was published on 11 December 2001.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if it was his intention, when commissioning the study by Dr. David Hurrell on hospital sterilisation procedures, to publish its findings; [15296]
(2) for what reason the CJD Incidents Panel did not receive a copy of the interim and final report from Dr. Hurrell; [15297]
(3) if he will publish the study by Dr. David Hurrell on hospital sterilisation procedures that reported to him in June 2000. [15294]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 15 November 2001]: The survey was a snapshot of a small number of hospitals and other health premises and was not commissioned with a view to publication. It was prepared for specific purposes, one of which was to set in train further work—including deciding whether a full survey was needed. It told us that there was considerable variation of decontamination in the national health service and it demonstrated the need to invest in sterile services. Hence the announcement of the start of the full survey in October 2000 and the commitment to a £200 million investment programme in January 2001. We have published the results of this full national survey today.
Mr. Hurrell was technical co-ordinator for the snapshot survey, acted as lead assessor for some of the visits and helped to analyse the information collected. Although he contributed to the production of the interim and final reports, he did not write either of them.
§ Dr. Evan HarrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will publish the letter of the 28 September from the Head of NHS estates to Dr. Hurrell; [15295]
(2) if he will publish correspondence between the Chief Executive of NHS estates and Dr. David Hurrell concerning CJD in hospitals. [15379]
§ Yvette CooperThe correspondence—between an official in national health service estates and an external consultant—was sent during an early phase of the systematic work we have undertaken to raise the standard140W of decontamination across the NHS. A full set of the papers describing the programme of work that extended over many months was made public on 11 December. These show that no hospital is assessed as being below standard. The text of the letter dated 26 September 2000 from Kate Priestley, chief executive of NHS estates to David Hurrell is set out:
Dear ColleagueRe: Confidentiality requirements—Decontamination reviewYou will be aware of the strict confidentiality approach, which has been continuously applied during the original national survey work and the subsequent report drafting process regarding surgical instrument decontamination and sterilisation.In light of the somewhat negative outcome recorded by the visiting assessors at the majority of clinical centres there is a need to ensure, at the express request of Ministers, that the final version and earlier draft reports remain strictly confidential.Excellent progress in terms of planning for the implementation of the conclusions and recommendations of the report is being made. However, this position and the benefits derived from it, in healthcare terms, may be compromised if the findings of the report were to enter the public domain in an inappropriate or unauthorised fashion.In light of the above we are reinforcing the need for confidentiality and ask that all members of the team return all report drafts as these are no longer needed. In the case of electronic copies would you please undertake to destroy these and to check that no relevant files remain on your system. Please ensure that this request is complied with promptly and confirm the destruction of electronic files by letter to the co-ordinator, Darryn Kerr.Thanking you for your co-operation in this and many other aspects of the work.