§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum period is which he requires should elapse before NICE guidance is reflected in(a) the advice given by NHS Direct and (b) the content of NHS Direct Online. [133369]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonWhen content of National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance requires amendment to National Health Service Clinical Assessment System (CAS) clinical content, the change would normally be made in the next clinical release. Main releases are currently made twice yearly. When the need for change is identified as more urgent than the timetable for the next main release, guidance regarding the change is issued first to all staff by a message system which is part of NHS CAS and this is followed by an interim version release of the clinical content between the main releases. Depending on the timing of release of NICE guidance in relation to the next planned main clinical release, it could otherwise be up to six months before the clinical content was revised. Advice on the urgency of implementing changes is given by the NHS Direct national medical adviser in consultation with the NHS Direct CAS clinical panel. NHS Direct is working with the system supplier to be able to amend clinical content more frequently.
If someone required information only on a treatment, the situation is as follows. The NICE website is on the recommended list for all NHS Direct call centres. Also, a monthly current awareness bulletin is produced and posted on 'indirect' (NHS Direct's Intranet site) as well as being e-mailed to site information staff (they are encouraged to publicise at sites). This would feature any new NICE guidelines.
If NICE guidance requires a change to the content of NHS Direct Online, it would usually be updated in their content within 48 hours, although this process can be shortened to within the hour for urgent cases.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of calls to NHS Direct were answered within 30 seconds in the most recent 12 month period, broken down by month, for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [136874]
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§ Ms Rosie WintertonThe percentage of calls to NHS Direct that were answered within 30 seconds for the most recent 12 month period, broken down by month are shown in the table. The overall percentage for the most recent 12 month period is 63 per cent.
Analysis date Percentage1 2002 November 60 December 61 2003 January 70 February 61 March 57 April 55 May 62 June 63 July 64 August 65 September 69 October 67 1 Percentage of calls answered in 30 seconds
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of staff are employed by NHS Direct; and if he will make a statement. [136876]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonCurrently, all NHS Direct members of staff are employed by their host organisation trust. NHS Direct employs approximately 3,000 (whole time equivalent) members of staff nationally. Of these, around 1,063 are nurses and 543 call handlers. The remaining staff consists of health information advisors, managers, trainers, nurse supervisors and administration staff. Each of the 22 sites for clinical governance purposes employs a medical director (doctor).
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the quality of clinical advice provided by NHS Direct to patients. [138074]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonNHS Direct has a well established record for offering good clinical advice. This was confirmed in the sector report published by the Commission for Health Improvement on 10 November, following its review of 19 out of the 23 NHS Direct sites in England.