View PDF - United Kingdom Parliament

107W
Written Answers
26 OCTOBER 2009
Written Answers
108W
Transfers under all sections of the Mental Health Act by strategic health authority 2008-09
Region Quarter 1 Quarter 2 Quarter 3 Quarter 4 Total
South East 46 51 54 47 198
South West 34 27 27 13 101
Wales 9 13 7 9 38
Total 342 307 335 294 1,278
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for
Health what steps he has taken since the publication of
Lord Bradley’s review of people with mental health
problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice
system to improve the identification of mental health
problems or learning disabilities among prisoners on
their reception into prison. [295327]
Phil Hope: Lord Bradley made 82 recommendations,
many of which Lord Bradley himself recognised needed
further work to ensure that all implications are considered
for children, young people and adults. The Government
have accepted the direction set out in the report and has
committed to report to Parliament on the progress
made by the end of October.
A Health and Criminal Justice National Programme
Board has been fully operational since June 2009 bringing
together senior officials in the key Departments
(Department of Health, Ministry of Justice, Home
Office, Department for Children, Schools and Families).
The Programme Board has been meeting monthly to
pull together a national delivery plan and ensure appropriate
cross-government representation and engagement as
actions are being developed.
The first objective of the Programme Board has been
to develop a national delivery plan that will set out our
shared vision for improving health and social care services
for all those in touch with the criminal justice system
including reviewing arrangements for reception for those
entering prison. The newly established Health and Criminal
Justice Programme Board have been working hard to
ensure that all the Bradley recommendations are fully
incorporated into this cross-government plan.
Ministers are due to report to parliament by the end
of this month on progress in this regard.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Health Services
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
what recent representations he has received from (a)
hon. Members, (b) members of the House of Lords,
(c) patient groups and (d) clinicians on treatment and
care for people diagnosed with myelodysplastic
syndromes (MDS); what his policy on such care and
treatment is; and if he will make a statement. [295038]
Ann Keen: Since the beginning of the 2008-09
parliamentary year, the Department has received four
parliamentary questions and at least 25 items of
correspondence relating to myelodysplastic syndromes.
Of these, 15 were from hon. Members, one from a
member of the House of Lords and nine from members
of the public.
The 2003 “Improving Outcomes in Haematological
Cancers” guidance from the National Institute for Health
and Clinical Excellence (NICE) sets out recommendations
about the care and treatment of patients with
myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), with the emphasis
on symptom control and supportive treatment.
It is for the national health service locally to implement
this guidance. Good progress has been made and the
National Cancer Action Team continue to work with
the NHS at a local level to ensure full implementation.
NICE is currently appraising azacitidine for the treatment
of MDS, and currently expects to publish final guidance
on this drug in May 2010.
NHS: Finance
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for
Health pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2009,
Official Report, columns 1169-72W, on NHS: finance,
how much each loan was for; when each loan was taken
out; and how much is expected to be repaid in respect
of each loan. [294923]
Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Department makes loans to
national health services trusts and national health service
foundation trusts. The information requested has been
placed in the Library.
Patient Choice Schemes
Mr. Stephen O’Brien: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health what steps he plans to take for implementing
a patient’s right to make choices about their healthcare
through statutory directions to primary care trusts; and
whether those directions will be published. [295502]
Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Primary Care Trusts ‘Choice
of Secondary Care Provider Directions 2009’were published
alongside the NHS Constitution on 21 January 2009
and came into effect on 1 April 2009. The Directions
place a number of new duties on primary care trusts,
including a duty to make arrangements to ensure that
patients who need an elective referral are offered a
choice of any clinically appropriate provider. The Directions
have been placed in the Library.
Prescription Drugs: Licensing
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
what guidance his Department provides to primary
care trusts on making decisions about the post-licence
use of new medicines; and if he will make a statement.
[295037]
Mr. Mike O’Brien: The Government have issued a
statutory funding direction which, unless it has
been amended or waived for a specific treatment, requires
national health service organisations to make funding
available for treatments recommended by the National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
within three months of publication of final technology
appraisal guidance.
New statutory directions were issued to primary care
trusts and NHS trusts concerning decisions about medicines
and other treatments where there is no positive NICE
recommendation. These came into force on 1 April
2009 and are supported by guiding principles and good
practice guidance.