here - United Kingdom Parliament

889W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
890W
(2) what steps his Department has taken to increase
the standard of healthcare for people diagnosed with
basophobia since 1990; and if he will make a
statement; [26494]
(3) whether he has made an estimate of the number of
(a) men and (b) women in each age group in each
health authority area who were diagnosed with basophobia
in each of the last three years; [26495]
(4) whether his Department has commissioned research
into (a) basophobia and (b) conditions related to
basophobia in the last three years; and if he will make a
statement; [26496]
(5) whether his Department has commissioned research
into the (a) causes and (b) prevention of basophobia
since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [26497]
Paul Burstow: Basophobia, a fear of falling, is one of
a large number of specific phobias that generally respond
well to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) although it
is important that physical health issues that might make
someone more likely to fall, such as low blood pressure,
are checked out before psychological treatment is started.
CBT is now increasingly available on the national health
service as a result of the Improving Access to Psychological
Therapies programme which began in 2008 and is about
half-way through its nationwide roll-out. The Chancellor
announced further funding in the spending review to
complete this roll-out by 2014-15. These local psychological
therapies services, which are delivered in primary care,
are ideal for patients with specific phobias like basophobia
because of the ease with which therapists can link with
the patient’s general practitioner.
With regard to research into the condition, the usual
practice of the Department’s National Institute for
Health Research (NIHR) is not to ring-fence funds for
expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in
all areas compete for the funding available.
British Medical Association: Competition
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
what representations he has received from the (a) British
Medical Association, (b) Royal College of Nursing
and (c) Royal Colleges on competition in the provision
of health services. [26533]
Mr Simon Burns: The Department received over 6000
responses to the White Paper consultation and these are
being considered carefully. The Government’s response
will be published in due course.
The British Medical Association, Royal College of
Nursing and other Royal Colleges responded to
Government’s consultation document: “Liberating
the NHS: Regulating healthcare providers”. A copy of
the consultation document has already been placed in
the Library.
Details of their responses to consultation can be
found at:
British Medical Association:
www.bma.org.uk/healthcare_policy/nhs_white_paper/
consultationpaperswp.jsp
Royal College of General Practitioners:
www.rcgp.org.uk/policy/liberating_the_nhs.aspx
Royal College of Midwives:
www.rcm.org.uk/college/policy-practice/consultations/pastconsultations/nhs-white-paper-consultations/
Royal College of Psychiatrists:
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/policy/policyandparliamentary/projects/
live/whitepaper.aspx
Cancer: Waiting Lists
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) what estimate he has made of the average waiting
time to see a cancer specialist in each year of the
comprehensive spending review period; [26526]
(2) what the average waiting time to see a cancer
specialist was in each primary care trust area in England
in the latest period for which figures are available.
[26527]
Paul Burstow: The Department has made no projections
of performance for the all cancer two week wait and
does not hold information on average waiting times for
these services. In the most recent period for which
statistics are available (Quarter 1 2010-11) 95.5% of
patients urgently referred with suspected cancer by their
general practitioner (GP) were seen within two weeks.
Statistics on average waiting times for cancer services
are not collected centrally. However, primary care trust
(PCT) based performance statistics for the all cancer
two week wait were published for the first time in
September this year and can be found at the following
link:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/
PublicationsStatistics/DH_119478
The most recent statistics available are for the year
2009-10 and show that between 1 April 2009 and 31 March
2010 94.9% of patients urgently referred by their GP
with suspected cancer were first seen by a specialist
within two weeks. Information on the number of patients
urgently referred by their GP with suspected cancer
who were first seen by a specialist within two weeks,
broken down by PCT in England, has been placed in
the Library.
Cataracts: Surgery
Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for
Health what steps he is taking to widen choice for
patients undergoing cataract surgery in the NHS; and if
he will make a statement. [26281]
Mr Simon Burns: We are committed to extending
choice for all national health service patients and service
users, including those who are referred for elective care
such as cataract treatment. We are currently consulting
on proposals for giving patients and service users greater
choice and control over their care and we will publish
our response along with more detailed policy proposals
early next year.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
whether his Department made an estimate of the effect
on the number of (a) emergency hospital admissions
and (b) inpatient bed days of increasing the rate of
early diagnosis for chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease. [26125]