§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he has made in his departmental budget for the spending entailed in the Sustainable Communities plan on healthcare in Ashford; and if he will make a statement. [98635]
§ Ms BlearsSustainable Communities Plan is an initiative of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and has indicated a sum of £164 million available over the next three years for Milton Keynes/South Midlands, Ashford, London-Stanstead and Cambridge.
Table 1: Completed primary courses: percentage of children immunised by their first birthday and second birthday Number of children Year Thousands Diphtheria Tetanus Polio Pertussis MMR1 Year of first birthday 1996–97 609 93 93 93 92 — 2000–01 578 91 91 91 90 — 2001–02 556 91 91 91 90 — Year of second birthday 1996–97 620 96 96 96 94 92 2000–01 592 94 95 94 94 87 2001–02 573 94 94 94 93 84 1Immunisation is recommended between 12 and 15 months of age Source
Department of Health, Statistics Division SD3G, Cover data
Table 2: Percentage of children immunised by their 5th birthday Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio Pertussis MMR Year Number of children age five1 Primary Primary and booster Primary First dose First and second dose 1996–9722 — — — — — — 2000–01 616 94 80 92 92 75 2001–02 608 94 81 93 91 74 1Thousands 2 Information about uptake age five was collected for the first time in 1999–2000 Source
Department of Health, Statistics Division SD3G Cover data
706WAshford Borough Council and strategic partners have been working for some time on an "Ashford's Future" study, and I am advised that in December 2001, key capacity issues were examined including a health profile of Ashford together with a health and modernisation plan produced by Ashford Primary Care Group. The study addressed current deficits and the vision for primary and community care looked at how many general practitioner surgeries would be needed over the growth period. "Ashford's Future The Overarching Report", published December 2002, included an indication of the number of primary care centres that would be required, phased over time.
Ashford Primary Care Trust and the Kent&Medway Strategic Health Authority will be key partners in the planning process as action planning becomes more detailed. The PCT will use the local delivery plan process and the StHAs capital funding process to progress development in Ashford.