here - United Kingdom Parliament

901W
Written Answers
1 DECEMBER 2010
Written Answers
902W
Muscular Dystrophy: Yorkshire and Humber
Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for
Health if he will meet the Yorkshire and Humber
Specialist Commissioning Group to discuss the
proposed appointment of a muscular dystrophy care
advisor for Hull. [27029]
Paul Burstow: The appointment of a muscular dystrophy
care adviser in Hull is a matter for the local national
health service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of
State currently has no plans to meet the Yorkshire and
the Humber Specialised Commissioning Group to discuss
this matter.
NHS
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
what assessment he has made of the likely ability of
NHS foundation trusts to meet patient safety targets in
each of the next three financial years. [26393]
Mr Simon Burns: We are informed by the Chairman
of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the Independent
Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) that the safety
of patients at NHS foundation trusts is assessed by a
number of bodies, principally the Care Quality Commission
(CQC). The CQC registers providers of regulated activities,
including NHS foundation trusts and monitors their
compliance with the essential safety and quality
requirements. Where there is evidence of material safety
concerns, CQC and Monitor will jointly consider the
appropriate action.
NHS: Armed Forces
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
how many armed forces reservists employed by the
NHS have had requests for leave to undergo operational
training refused by NHS trusts in the financial year
2010-11 to date. [26534]
Mr Simon Burns: This information is not collected
centrally.
We do not centrally monitor the number of national
health service (NHS) staff serving in the reserve forces.
There is an option on the electronic staff record (ESR)
to record reserve forces training as a reason for absence,
however, entry of these data is not mandatory (although
it is recommended as ESR best practice). Last year
around 100 NHS organisations recorded reserve forces
training as a reason for absence but we cannot be sure
of a national figure or how many requests for this type
of leave have been refused.
NHS: Public Finance
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for
Health what the budget deficit or surplus was for each
NHS trust on the latest date for which figures are
available. [26499]
Mr Simon Burns: The latest figures available on the
surplus or deficit positions for each national health
service trust are the 2010-11 Quarter 1 forecasts, which
were published on the Department’s website on 19
November 2010.
These figures can be found by region in annexes 1 to
10 of David Flory’s, ‘The Quarter: quarter 1 2010-11’
at:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/
PublicationsStatistics/DH_087335
and a copy has been placed in the Library.
Nurses: Public Expenditure
Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) what estimate he has made of the number of nurses
who will leave the NHS in each year of the Comprehensive
Spending Review period; [26537]
(2) what estimate he has made of the number of
nurses to be recruited in each year of the Comprehensive
Spending Review period. [26540]
Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected
by the Department
The precise numbers of national health service nurses
required over the next five years will not be known until
the new organisations that will underpin the new system
have been designed in more detail.
The Department of Health has consulted on how the
new organisations should be designed and is analysing
responses. Information on how the new organisations
should be designed will be announced in due course.
The Government have fulfilled their commitment to
give the NHS a real terms increase in funding each year.
The demands on the service are rising and to meet
these, the NHS must make up to £20 billion of efficiency
savings by 2014, by reducing bureaucracy and doing
things differently. Savings will be reinvested to support
the delivery of quality health care.
Social Services: Elderly
Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State
for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the likely
percentage reduction in funding for social care for
older people in Newcastle upon Tyne as a result of the
comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a
statement; [26950]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effect
of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review
on the quality of social care services provided for older
people in Newcastle upon Tyne; and if he will make a
statement. [26952]
Paul Burstow: The spending review recognised the
importance of social care to hundreds of thousands of
adults of all ages, backgrounds and identities: supporting
their independence and helping them to make full and
active contributions to their communities.
In recognition of the pressures on the social care
system in a challenging local government settlement,
the coalition Government have allocated an additional
£2 billion by 2014-15 to support the delivery of social
care.
We have achieved this by:
The national health service transferring some funding from the
health capital budget to health revenue, to be spent on measures
that support social care, which also benefits health. This funding
will rise to £1 billion in 2014-15, and will promote improved joint
working between the health and social care systems. Further
details will be set out in the NHS Operating Framework 2011-12.