HC Deb 11 May 2004 vol 421 cc311-4W
Mr. Benton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Bootle. [169262]

Miss Melanie Johnson

In March 1997, there were 138 people waiting nine months, and 40 people waiting over 12 months, for heart surgery at the cardiothoracic centre—Liverpool National Health Service Trust. The latest available figures show that, in February 2004, there were no people waiting nine months and over for surgery.

Mr. Benton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether there is a diagnostic and treatment centre located in Bootle. [169266]

Miss Melanie Johnson

There is no treatment centre in Bootle. A treatment centre is located at the Aintree Hospital National Health Service Trust.

Mr. Benton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) therapists and (b) scientists were located in Bootle in each of the last seven years. [170538]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The information requested is shown in the table.

NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified scientific,

therapeutic and technical staff in each specified organisation as at

30 September each specified year

South Sefton PCT Aintree Hospitals NHS Trust Headcount

Total

1997 n/a 393 393
1998 n/a 415 415
1999 n/a 470 470
2000 n/a 500 500
2001 n/a 507 507
2002 19 482 501
2003 19 555 574
n/a = Not applicable.
Source:
Department of Health Non Medical Workforce Census.

Mr. Benton

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many senior citizens in Bootle aged over 60 years have benefited from the abolition of charges for eye tests; [170539]

(2) how many senior citizens in Bootle have access to free eye tests. [170540]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number of senior citizens is not collected centrally.

The total number of sight tests paid for by Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority in the year 2002–03 for the aged 60 and over category was 201, 180. The total number eligible for a free sight test for those aged 60 and over was 507,080. Sight tests cannot be equated to the number of patients.

Mr. Djanogly

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS(a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in the Huntington constituency in each of the last seven years; and if he will make a statement. [170852]

Dr. Ladyman

Information on the number of doctors and nurses in the Huntington constituency in each of the last seven years has been placed in the Library.

Nationally, more staff are returning to the NHS:

  • With over 3,000 nurses and midwives in training since 1999.
  • With over 15,800 former nurses, midwives and health visitors returned since 1999.
  • With over 3,600 expressions of interest in the flexible careers scheme.
  • Golden hello scheme—3,500 beneficiaries since April 2001.

Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average general practitioner list size was in Greater London, broken down by national health service trust, in each of the last 10 years. [170506]

Mr. Hutton

Information on the average list sizes in London has been placed in the Library. Information by primary care trust is only available from 2001.

Mr. Alan Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of funding for sexual health services in North Tyneside was in each year since 1997. [170422]

Miss Melanie Johnson

This information is not collected centrally.

Funding is allocated to primary care trusts on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. It is for primary care trusts in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health in equalities and modernising services.

Mr. Alan Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) private dentists and (b) NHS dentists there are in North Tyneside; and if he will make a statement. [170423]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Information on the number of dentists in North Tyneside who are working wholly privately is not available.

The table shows the number of primary care national health service dentists in North Tyneside.

National health service: Number of dentists in North Tyneside

as at 30 September 2003

Number of Dentists
Primary Care Trust General Dental Service Personal Dental Service Community Dental Service
North Tyneside
PCT 62 5 2

Notes:

1. GDS dentists are dentists whose main work is in North Tyneside. PDS dentists exclude dentists already counted as GDS dentists.

2. Dentists in the General Dental Service include Principals, Assistants and Vocational Dental Practitioners. These figures are on a headcount basis rather than whole time equivalent (wte) basis and therefore take no account of part-time working.

3. These figures exclude 127 dentists working in the Hospital Dental Service in Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Trust, which covers a wider area than North Tyneside.

Source:

Dental Practice Board and Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Mr. Alan Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pensioners living within the North Tyneside Primary Care Trust area benefited from free eye tests in(a) 2002 and (b) 2003. [170424]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Data for the number of sight tests by constituency or by the number of senior citizens is not collected centrally.The total number of sight tests paid for by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear strategic health authority in the year 2002–03 for those aged 60 and over was 50,860. Source: Department of Health Statistics.

Mr. Neil Turner

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public funding has been spent on health in Wigan in each of the last seven years. [169353]

Miss Melanie Johnson

The information is not available in the format requested. Expenditure per weighted head in the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, which includes the constituency of Wigan, has increased from £582.33 in 1997–98 to £992.61 in 2002–03, the latest year available. This does not represent the total expenditure per head as an element of health expenditure cannot be identified by SHA area.