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Major Developments (7th February –
11th February)
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Health Select Committee session on
the Public Health White Paper
The Health Select Committee have announced that a
single evidence session on the Public Health White Paper will take place on
23rd February 2005. Witnesses called are Dr John Reid, Melanie
Johnson MP and Dr Fiona Adshead, Deputy CMO.
Patient Choice Adjournment Debate
Dr Richard Taylor MP chaired an Adjournment debate in
Westminster Hall on the National Health Service, highlighting particularly
the limitations of patient choice. Dr Taylor also said the Government was
failing to deliver on pledges to expand choice for patients - a key plank of
both the Labour and Tory health policies. For full details click here.
APHG Seminar on Obesity
As part of the Public Health Seminar Series, the APHG
held it’s meeting on obesity with Speakers Dr Fiona Adshead, Roger
Taylor of Dr Foster Ltd, Dr Ian Campbell, President of the National Obesity
Forum and Sir Derek Wanless, Author of
‘Securing Good Health for the Whole Population’. For further details of the meeting and the Public Health series,
please see our website.
NHS funding announced
The Department of Health has announced
additional NHS funding for Primary Care Trusts. Responsible for 75% of the
NHS budget, PCTs are to receive an extra 19.5% of funds (£135bn) from 2006-7
to 2007-8. But the Conservatives said the money was not new as it had already
been promised to the NHS. This is aimed to improve access and provide significant
resources at PCT-level to prevent ill-health as set out in the Public Health
White Paper.
Health Select Committee – New
Developments in HIV/AIDS and sexual health policy
The Health Select Committee held the second evidence
on session in their inquiry into new developments in HIV/AIDS and sexual
health policy. Witnesses were called from the Department of Health and the
Department of Education. Please see The Committee Corridor for more details.
Westminster Hall Debate on Obesity
Chaired by Sir Nicholas Winterton the debate looked
at the Health Select Committee’s most recent report on Obesity.
Speaking at the debate, Dr Richard Taylor MP highlighted some of the issues
raised at APHG’s obesity seminar – that there is a lack of data and information about obesity and that targets set can
have negative effects on the services provided. For full details click here.
The Week Ahead (14th February – 18th
February)
Parliament will be in recess until 21st February.
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This Past Week (7th February – 11th
February)
HOUSE
OF COMMONS
Health
Questions l Questions to the Prime
Minister l Westminster Hall Debates l Written Ministerial
Statements l Chamber and Legislation l Written Answers (A-Z) l The Committee Corridor
l Early Day
Motions
HOUSE
OF LORDS
Lords Chamber l Written Answers (Lords)
OTHER PARLIAMENTARY BODIES
Private Legislation l National Audit Office
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HOUSE
OF COMMONS
Parliamentary Health Questions –
Answered in the Chamber
NHS Funding [9 Feb 2005]
Hospital Services (Paddington) [10 Feb
2005]
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Questions to the Prime Minister (9th
February)
Mr. Archie Norman (Tunbridge Wells)— Prescription charges for sufferers of Cystic Fibrosis
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Westminster Hall Debates
Health Services (Hartlepool) [8 Feb 2005]
National Health Service [8 Feb 2005]
Frenchay Hospital [8 Feb 2005]
Ambulance Trust Mergers [9 Feb 2005]
Obesity [10 Feb 2005]
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Written Ministerial Statements
Food Standards Agency (Annual Report
2003–04) [8 Feb 2005]
Care Services (Regulatory Fees) [8 Feb 2005]
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Chamber
and Legislation
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Written Answers (A-Z by subject) – Select a
letter.
_________________________________________________________________
A l B l C l D l E l F l G l H l I l J l K l L l M l N l O l P l Q l R l S l T l U l V l W l X l Y l Z
___________________________________________________________________
A
Accident and Emergency Services [10 Feb 2005]
Agenda for Change [7 Feb 2005]
Aircraft Charters [10 Feb 2005]
Antiviral Drugs [10 Feb 2005]
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ALPHABETS
B
Blood Glucose Strips [7 Feb 2005]
Breast Cancer [7 Feb 2005]
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C
Cannabis [10 Feb 2005]
Capital Investment (Worcestershire) [7 Feb 2005]
Care Homes (VAT) [8 Feb 2005]
Childhood Vaccines [10 Feb 2005]
Correspondence [10 Feb 2005]
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ALPHABETS
D
Dentistry [10 Feb 2005]
Dentistry [7 Feb 2005]
Departmental Catering [7 Feb 2005]
Departmental Staff [7 Feb 2005]
Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority
[10 Feb 2005]
Draper Report [10 Feb 2005]
Drug Addicts/Misuse [10 Feb 2005]
Drug Treatment [10 Feb 2005]
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E
Elective Surgery [10 Feb 2005]
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F
Food Supplements Regulations [7 Feb 2005]
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G
General Medical Services Contract [7 Feb 2005]
General Practitioners [7 Feb 2005]
Glaucoma [7 Feb 2005]
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H
HIV/AIDS (Children) [10 Feb 2005]
HIV/AIDS (Children) [8 Feb 2005]
HIV/AIDS [10 Feb 2005]
Hospital Admissions of Fractured Neck of Femur
[7 Feb 2005]
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ALPHABETS
I
Infertility Treatment [10 Feb 2005]
In-house Magazines [7 Feb 2005]
Insulin [7 Feb 2005]
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J
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K
Kidney Disease [7 Feb 2005]
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L
LIFT Programme [10 Feb 2005]
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M
Mental Capacity Bill [8 Feb 2005]
Mental Health (Young People) [7 Feb 2005]
Mental Health Care [10 Feb 2005]
Mobility Aids [7 Feb 2005]
MRI Scans [7 Feb 2005]
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N
National Institute for Clinical Excellence [10
Feb 2005]
NHS Staff Suspensions [7 Feb 2005]
NHS Trusts [7 Feb 2005]
Nursing Courses [8 Feb 2005]
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ALPHABETS
O
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P
Paddington Basin Hospital [7 Feb 2005]
Parking [10 Feb 2005]
Parliamentary Questions [10 Feb 2005]
Parliamentary Questions [7 Feb 2005]
PE Teaching [10 Feb 2005]
Performance Measurement [10 Feb 2005]
Prevenar [10 Feb 2005]
Protection of Vulnerable Adults [7 Feb 2005]
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Q
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R
Residential Care Costs [7 Feb 2005]
Retinal Screening [7 Feb 2005]
Rural Areas [7 Feb 2005]
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S
Salt Consumption [9 Feb 2005]
Saneline [7 Feb 2005]
School Meals [7 Feb 2005]
Secure Units [7 Feb 2005]
Smoking Policy [8 Feb 2005]
Special Advisers [10 Feb 2005]
Specialist Nurses [7 Feb 2005]
Stem Cells [7 Feb 2005]
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T
Teenage Sex [10 Feb 2005]
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U
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V
Variant CJD [10 Feb 2005]
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W
Welsh Language Scheme [7 Feb 2005]
Women's Bleeding Disorders [10 Feb 2005]
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X
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Y
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Z
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Tuesday 8th February
The Science and Technology Committee have published their
report on The Future of the National Institute for Medical Research, in which
they criticise the way the proposed move of the National Institute for
Medical Research (NIMR) to a central London
site has been handled. For further information see Publication of Report - Conclusions.
Thursday 10th February
The Health Select Committee held a further session looking into new
developments in HIV/AIDS and sexual health policy. Witnesses:
Department of Health
Miss Melanie Johnson MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for
Public Health)
Ms Elizabeth Ryan, Section Head, Injury Costs
Recovery & Charging for Overseas Visitors
Mr Geoff Dessent, Deputy Division Head, Sexual Health
& Substance Misuse
Department for Education and Skills
Ms Julie Bramman, Head of Curriculum, Specialism & Collaboration
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Early Day Motions
PALLIATIVE CARE - Bob Spink, 08/02/05
PALLIATIVE CARE Amdt. line 4: - David Taylor, 08/02/05
EPILEPSY SUPPORT
– John Battle, 08/02/05
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______________________________________________
HOUSE
OF LORDS
Lords Chamber –
Debates, Legislation and Ministerial Statements
7th February
MRSA
8th February
Mental Capacity Bill (Committee Stage)
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Written answers (Lords)
9th
February
Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority:
Research Applications
Health and Social Care: Deferred Payments Grant
NHS: Wheelchairs
10th February
Drug Treatment
Medical Education for Students
MMR Vaccines
Healthcare Associated Infections
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Lords Committees
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________________________________________________________
Private Bills originate outside Parliament and are
promoted by bodies seeking special powers not available under the general
law.
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The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending
on behalf of Parliament. It reports to the Public Accounts Committee and is
totally independent of government. The role of
the NAO is to audit the accounts of all central government departments,
agencies, and other public bodies, reporting to Parliament on the economy,
efficiency and effectiveness with which they have used public money.
10th February
The National Audit Office published an update report
on the new Darent Valley
hospital which, in 1997, had been the first hospital procured under the PFI.
For full details, please see the below links:
Full Report  (683 KB)
Executive Summary
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Department of Health and National Health Service
Key
issues from the Department of Health and NHS
7th February
NHS Careers campaign
Health Minister John Hutton launched the NHS Careers 2005 advertising
campaign to encourage more people to join the NHS. It calls for people from a
variety of backgrounds and professions to "join the team and make a
difference". The Campaign targets primary care staff, midwifery,
radiography and mental health workers.
8th February
Chlamydia screening to become more accessible
Minister for Public Health, Melanie Johnson, announced that the first
steps to make chlamydia screening available in pharmacies across the country.
Independent health care providers are being asked to submit bids to pilot
this new scheme in community pharmacies throughout London
and Cornwall
- making it easier for young men and women to use chlamydia screening
services. Successful applicants will provide free chlamydia screening for
16-24 year olds – including the partners of those who test positive
– and may also be able to offer patients the choice of receiving
treatment at their local pharmacy.
8th February
Major review of mental health nursing
Chief Nursing Officer Chris Beasley has announced plans for new
framework for mental health nursing, in light of major government reforms
such as "Choosing Health", "Delivering Race Equality" and
the draft Mental Health Bill. As the largest professional group in mental
health services, mental health nurses play an important role in delivering
these reforms.
9th February
£135 billion to improve NHS services and health
of the nation
Health Secretary John Reid announced how £135 billion investment in
the NHS will be allocated to PCTs in England over the next two
financial years. The aim is to deliver improved services and make
progress in tackling the big killer diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Allocation is based on fairness, improving access to services and making
prevention as important as the cure.
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Independent Regulators
The Healthcare Commission and Monitor are independent
bodies responsible to Parliament for regulating different elements of health
care provision. See below for details of the key issues from both:
APHG and Website
Forthcoming
Meetings
PUBLIC HEALTH WHITE PAPER SEMINAR
SERIES – MARKETING HEALTH
Tuesday 22nd February 2005
Terrace Marquee, House of Commons,
8:15am – 10:00am
Dr Fiona Adshead, Deputy Chief
Medical Officer
Mike Attwood, Chief Executive
– Slough PCT
Tim Kelsey, Chief Executive –
Dr Foster Ltd
‘Health in a Consumer Society’, Chapter
Two of ‘Choosing Health’, expounds the fundamental message of the
Public Health White Paper: That the choices which people make as consumers
have an enormous impact upon their health and that it is the legitimate role
of Government to create the environment in which consumers are provided with
the best information to make healthy choices. Therefore, a Public Health
strategy must stimulate demand for healthy lifestyles, limit the marketing of
unhealthy options and guarantee scope for healthy choice. Where there is
strong national and public concern, the Government must coordinate action
amongst all of the players in the market.
The final seminar of the APHG Public Health Series
begins with an overview of ‘Health in the Consumer Society’ from
Dr Fiona Adshead, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. Slough PCT Chief
Executive Mike Attwood will then outline the Action Diabetes programme, a
case study of successful delivery involving supply and demand-side measures
to combat Type 2 Diabetes, targeted especially at the Asian community. Tim
Kelsey, Chief Executive of Dr Foster Ltd, the healthcare communication
experts will look at the future of marketing health.
Presentations will be kept to a minimum, with the
intention of creating a forum for MPs and Peers to discuss the issues with
experts in the area. This promises to be a really informative debate about
the practicalities of delivering the Public Health White Paper.
Website
Links
To access our own site, containing information on
past and present meetings and access to constituency health data, click here.
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Useful Links
NHS
The National Health Service Website. Contains
details of local NHS services and information on how the NHS works.
Healthcare Commission
The Healthcare Commission’s website. Includes
information on their role, plus details of reports & investigations that
they have carried out.
NHS Direct
Information and links on health issues, including
self-help and in depth information on various topics such as breast cancer,
depression and diabetes.
Dr Foster
Source of information on UK
health services, including NHS and Private Healthcare available by area, and
comparisons across the UK.
Monitor-Independent Regulator of NHS
Foundation Trusts
Monitor’s website includes
information on its role, the makeup of its Board and Management Team, the
Public Register of NHS Foundation Trusts and its latest press releases.
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