Obesity (Hansard, 13 February 2004)

§ Mrs. Iris Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost 167W to the NHS of treating obesity in Northern Ireland for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [155419]

§ Angela Smith
By extrapolating from figures in a National Audit Office report relating to England and Wales, it has been estimated that obesity may cost the HPSS £15 million-£20 million year.

§ Mrs. Iris Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action is being taken to combat increases in obesity; and if he will make a statement. [155420]

§ Angela Smith
Action to tackle obesity is being taken forward through programmes to promote a healthy diet such as the "Fresh Fruit in Schools" initiative and also through a range of initiatives to promote physical activity, including the "Get a life, get active" campaign.
Revised strategies and action plans on food and nutrition and physical activity are currently being developed by inter-sectoral working groups. Both documents will be issued for consultation later in the year. In addition, a task force to address the specific

HSS Trust Count WTE Number of weekly NHS sessions employed for

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust 6 5.91 5 work 11 NHS sessions per week

1 works 10 NHS sessions per week

Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust 17 15.15 1 works 8.5 NHS sessions per week

7 work 10 NHS sessions per week

8 work 11 NHS sessions per week

1 works as and when required

Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust ¹Not available 8.09 Total of 89 NHS sessions worked by consultants per week²

Ulster Comm. and Hosp. HSS Trust 6 4.64 1 works 2 NHS sessions per week

1 works 2.5 NHS sessions per week

1 works 3 NHS sessions per week

1 works 4 NHS sessions per week

2 work 5 NHS sessions per week

Total Not available 33.79 Total of 342 NHS sessions worked per week by consultant orthopaedic surgeons

¹ Headcount figure for number of consultant orthopaedic consultants working in Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust was not available.

²It was not possible to breakdown the number of NHS sessions worked by consultant orthopaedic consultants in Royal Group of Hosp HSS Trust.

HSS Trust	Count	WTE	Number of weekly NHS sessions employed for
Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust	6	5.91	5 work 11 NHS sessions per week
			1 works 10 NHS sessions per week
Greenpark Healthcare HSS Trust	17	15.15	1 works 8.5 NHS sessions per week
			7 work 10 NHS sessions per week
			8 work 11 NHS sessions per week
			1 works as and when required
Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust	¹Not available	8.09	Total of 89 NHS sessions worked by consultants per week²
Ulster Comm. and Hosp. HSS Trust	6	4.64	1 works 2 NHS sessions per week
			1 works 2.5 NHS sessions per week
			1 works 3 NHS sessions per week
			1 works 4 NHS sessions per week
			2 work 5 NHS sessions per week
Total	Not available	33.79	Total of 342 NHS sessions worked per week by consultant orthopaedic surgeons
¹ Headcount figure for number of consultant orthopaedic consultants working in Royal Group of Hosp. HSS Trust was not available.
²It was not possible to breakdown the number of NHS sessions worked by consultant orthopaedic consultants in Royal Group of Hosp HSS Trust.