Week of 7^th April Contents Major Developments Links to information on recent major developments. The Week Ahead Upcoming business in Westminster. This Past Week Links to the business of both houses that has taken place over the last week. Including Ministerial and Prime Ministers Questions, debates in both houses and in Westminster Hall, links to written statements and answers and details of other Parliamentary bodies. DH, NHS and other agencies Links to the main news from the Department of Health and the NHS, the Healthcare Commission, Monitor and other relevant bodies. Including topical health issues, links and recent publications. APHG and Website Information from the APHG including: News on forthcoming events, links to our own site, and access to constituency health data. Useful Links Links to other health pages.

Major Developments (3^rd - 7^th April)

NHS job cuts could rise to 24,00 – Lib Dems

The Liberal Democrats have published research suggesting that the number of job cuts in the NHS could reach 24,000. Some 7000 jobs have already been announced by NHS trusts across the country, but the new research suggests that only around a quarter of debt-ridden hospitals have made announcements on staff cuts and the eventual figure could be four times that. The government have rejected the claims, saying the figures are based on "crude calculations".

One in 10 dentists refuses to sign contract

It has been reported that Nearly 1 million patients have been left without access to cheap dental care. Official figures show that approximately 2,000 NHS dentists across England refused to sign the new contract introduced by the government. However, health ministers argue that claims of a mass exodus of dentists from the NHS are unfounded. They argue that the figures show that rejected contracts equate to just 4 per cent of current NHS dental services - with some of these services already replaced by Primary Care Trusts.

Under the contract, dentists will no longer be paid for each NHS treatment they carry out and instead will get a guaranteed income, estimated to be about £80,000 a year for three years.

Doctors write to Blair calling for charging in healthcare

An open letter from 900 NHS doctors to the Prime Minister has warned that the health service cannot survive in its present form and that individuals should expect to pay for treatment in the future. The doctors said a healthcare system funded only from taxes was bound to fail to meet patients' rising expectations. Rationing of services and bigger financial deficits were the inevitable result of preserving the status quo, they said. The letter was drawn up by the pressure group Doctors For Reform, which claims to be politically unaligned.

Avian Influenza arrives in Britain

Chief government scientist Sir David King has said the chances of a bird flu pandemic are "very low". This comes in light of negative tests on nine birds checked for bird flu in the wake of the first UK case of the deadly H5N1 virus. The only confirmed case remains that of a dead swan found in the coastal village of Cellardyke in Fife.

See below for further information.

APHG held a meeting on Pandemic Influenza with Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, in December 2005. For further details of this meeting please contact Neil on neil.mainprize@healthinparliament.org.uk.

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The Week Ahead (10^th – 21^st April)

Parliament is in recess until 18^th April.

Tuesday 18^th April

House of Commons: Oral Parliamentary Questions – Health

House of Lords: The Baroness Gardner of Parkes-To ask Her Majesty's Government how many dentists have signed to work under the new National Health Service dental contract with effect from 1st April 2006; and how this compares with the number of dentists in National Health Service dental practice in 2005;

House of Lords: The Lord Ashley of Stoke-To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the medical assessment procedure for claims for disability benefits.

Wednesday 19^th April

House of Commons: Adjournment Debate - Mental health services in Hertfordshire (Charles Walker MP)

House of Lords: The Lord Jenkin of Roding-To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Health's report Self-Sufficiency in Blood Products in England and Wales, published on 27th February, is a complete account of the circumstances leading to the infection of National Health Service patients with HIV and hepatitis C due to contaminated blood products.

Thursday 20^th April

House of Lords: Health Bill (Grand Committee stage 1st day)

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This Past Week (3^rd – 7^th April)

OTHER PARLIAMENTARY BODIES

NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE

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.

Report published outlining joint health programmes

The NAO, Audit Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection and Healthcare Commission have set out their combined programme of national health and social care studies for 2006-07 and their proposed studies for 2007-08. The increased collaboration between these bodies is to avoid duplication and to provide a joined-up response to national priorities.

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Department of Health and National Health Service

Key issues from the Department of Health and NHS

Tuesday 4^th April

Hewitt moves to improve the discharge process: Following research by the National Institute for Innovation and Improvement showing that there is wide variation between hospitals in the average length of time patients stay in for particular treatments, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has pledged to improve the discharge process so that patients are discharged when they are ready, not when the system is ready. By doing so it is foreseen that the NHS will both improve patient care and save money.

Wednesday 5^th April

Government sets up expert group to learn from clinical trials incident:

Health Minister Lord Warner has announced the appointment of Professor Gordon Duff to chair an expert group set up to learn from the Parexel clinical trials incident. The group will look at the science surrounding monoclonal antibody treatment, and how trials involving these types of drugs need to be managed in the future.

Monday 10^th April

In light of the recent discovery of the Avian Influenza virus in Britain, the Department of Health has updated its public advice on the disease. Click here to read more about the background of the disease and about the nature of the risk to people living in the UK. 

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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:

Key issues from the Healthcare Commission

There was no news from the Healthcare Commission this week.

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Key issues from Monitor

Friday 7^th April

Developing the Compliance Framework: Clinical Quality and Service Performance: Monitor has published a document detailing how they propose to develop the Compliance Framework. The proposals underline the full responsibility of foundation trust boards for all aspects of the operations of their trust including clinical quality and service performance. It outlines how Monitor will ensure boards undertake this responsibility and how they might intervene if they do not. The document also sets out how Monitor proposes to assess the governance risks faced by an NHS foundation trust in relation to the delivery of national targets and core standards.

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APHG and Website

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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