HC Deb 08 September 2003 vol 410 cc201-3W
Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has had regarding the star rating system. [127377]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI), which is now responsible for publishing the NHS Star Ratings, has received a small number of queries from trusts seeking clarification over the calculation of their Star Rating. Representations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health have included a small number of right hon. and hon. Members, members. of the public and national health service staff proffering views on the NHS Star Ratings system. These views are being passed to CHI so that they may inform future developments of the star ratings system.

Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what qualitative basis star ratings for hospital-acquired infections are calculated. [127567]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Two new performance indicators related to hospital acquired infections contributed to the star ratings this July. The first, a methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) improvement score was based on quantitative data from the national mandatory MRSA surveillance system. The second, an infection control procedures indicator was based on a qualitative assessment against the infection control standard. Full details of these indicators are on http://www.ratings.chi.nhs.uk/Trust/Indicator/indicators.asp?trustType = 1

Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department has in place to reduce incidences of MRSA in NHS hospitals. [127334]

Miss Melanie Johnson

We already have standards to ensure there is a managed environment which minimises the risk of infection to patients, staff and visitors. In addition, infection control procedures and a methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus score are now performance indicators and contributed to the star ratings in July. We are continuing work to improve infection control in hospitals by developing a longer term strategy to reduce health care associated infections, spearheaded by the Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Fox

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals have opened in the last three years; and at what cost. [127357]

Mr. Hutton

35 new hospital building schemes have become operational since July 2000. The schemes and their capital values are shown in the following table:

Scheme Capital value

(£ million)

Dartford and Gravesham 94
Buckinghamshire Hospitals 45
Queen Elizabeth Hospital—Greenwich 96
County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals 61
Calderdale and Huddersfield 65
South Manchester University 67
Norfolk and Norwich Health 158
Hereford Hospitals 64
Barnet and Chase Farm 54
Worcestershire Acute 87
County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals 48
King's Healthcare 76
Swindon and Marlborough 100
Leeds Community and Mental 47
Bromley Hospitals 118
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals 22
West Middlesex University Hospital 60
Berkshire Healthcare 30
Rochdale 24

Scheme Capital value

(£ million)

Central Sheffield University Hospitals 24
Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital 84
Queens Medical Centre—Nottingham University Hospital 17
West Sussex Health and Social Care 22
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare 28
Oxleas 11
North East London Mental Health 11
Northern Birmingham Mental Health 18
Cornwall Healthcare—Bodmin 10
East London and The City Mental Health—Newham 15
Luton and Dunstable 15
Northumbria Healthcare—Wansbeck 18
Royston Buntingford and Bishop Stortford PCT 15
Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals 13
Northumbria Healthcare—Hexham 29
Swale PCT 14

Forward to