Week of 24^th February 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 (20^th – 24^th February)

An APHG meeting on MRSA and Healthcare Associated Infections is to be held on Wednesday 1st March. Speakers will include Chris Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer; Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing and Professor Pat Troop CBE, Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency. The meeting will address the issues of hygiene and cleanliness and anti-microbial resistance in the battle against MRSA and HAIs.

Tuesday 21st February

Breast cancer screening is saving around 1,400 lives a year in the UK, according to a report published by the Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer Screening, a body set up by the government to monitor the programme.

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The Week Ahead (27^th February – 3^rd March)

Monday 27^th February

House of Commons: Work and Pensions Select Committee enquiry into the Incapacity Benefits and Pathways to Work Inquiry. Witnesses will include the Disability Alliance, RNIB, RNID, Age Concern, Mind, Rethink and The Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Tuesday 28^th February

The National Audit Office, the Audit Commission and the Healthcare Commission publish a joint report on tackling childhood obesity.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre publishes data on general ophthalmic services, community care statistics and figures on England’s breast screening programme

Wednesday 1^st March

APHG Meeting: MRSA and Healthcare Associated Infections. Speakers include: Chris Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health; Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing and Prof Pat Troop CBE, Chief Executive of Health Protection Agency

House of Commons: Opposition Day (14th allotted day). There will be a debate on dentistry followed by a debate on the future of cancer services. Both debates arise on an opposition Motion.

House of Commons: Science and Technology Select Committee enquiry into Scientific advice, risk and evidence: how Government handles them. Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs.

Westminster Hall: Subject proposed to be raised on the Motion for the Adjournment - Future of Burnley General Hospital (Kitty Ussher MP)

Westminster Hall: Subject proposed to be raised on the Motion for the Adjournment - NHS in North Northamptonshire (Peter Bone MP)

House of Lords: NHS Redress Bill [HL]—Third Reading [The Lord Warner]

House of Lords: Health Bill—Second Reading [The Lord Warner]

Thursday 2^nd March

House of Lords: The Lord Cobbold—To call attention to the drug classification system; and to move for papers.

House of Lords: Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) (Payment of Claims) (Amendment) Regulations 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Evans of Temple Guiting] [15th Report from the Joint Committee]

House of Lords: Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2006—Consideration in Grand Committee [The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath] [16th Report from the Joint Committee]

Health minister Rosie Winterton issues new guidance on social inclusion and mental health.

Friday 3^rd March

House of Commons: Private Members’ Bill – Breastfeeding etc. Bill: Second Reading. Member in charge: Mr David Kidney MP

House of Commons: Private Members’ Bill – Care of Older and Incapacitated People (Human Rights) Bill: Second Reading. Member in charge: Mr Paul Burstow MP

House of Commons: Private Members’ Bill – Breast Cancer Bill: Adjourned Debate on Second Reading [20th January]. Member in charge: Mr Shailesh Vara MP

The Department of Health publishes data on cancelled operations, critical care beds, NHS in-patient and out-patient waiting times and waiting times for suspected cancer patients.

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This Past Week (20^th – 24^th 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

Parliament was in recess this week

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HOUSE OF LORDS

Parliament was in recess this week

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PRIVATE LEGISLATION

Private Bills originate outside Parliament and are promoted by bodies seeking special powers not available under the general law.

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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.

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Department of Health and National Health Service

Key issues from the Department of Health and NHS

Tuesday 21^st February

Pioneer sites to pave the way for shorter treatment waiting times - Eight ‘pioneer’ health communities have been chosen to help the NHS deliver a maximum wait of 18 weeks from GP referral to treatment. The pioneers will kick off their work by developing simple and effective ways of measuring referral to treatment times – capturing everything including hidden waits for diagnostics. From there, they will look at how they can reorganise their systems so that patients can get through all the stages of the patient pathway within 18 weeks.The eight will become test-beds for innovative new ways to speed up access to care and show the rest of the NHS how to eliminate long waiting times.

Friday 24^th February

New guide published to help those with long term conditions - NHS and social care organisations are being given extra support in helping millions of people with long term conditions manage their health better and stay out of hospital, in a new guide published today by the Department of Health. The document – Supporting people with long term conditions to self-care – has been produced to further support NHS and social care staff in promoting self-care amongst their patients. Helping people take control of their own health was a key theme of the recent health white paper.

DH buys 3.5 million doses of H5N1 vaccine - Health Minister, Rosie Winterton announced on Friday the award of contracts to Baxter and Chiron for supplies of around 3.5 million doses of H5N1 vaccine. The announcement was made as EU Health Ministers attended a special meeting in Vienna to take stock of recent events and discuss coordination action at European level.

APHG Meeting with CMO Professor Sir Liam Donaldson – Avian Influenza, 15/12/05

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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

Tuesday 20^th February

Healthcare Commission launches Investigation into learning disability services at Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust - The primary care trust, based in south west London, invited the Healthcare Commission to undertake the investigation following a number of serious incidents in its learning disability service, including allegations of physical and sexual abuse. Two former employees of the trust have recently been charged under the Sexual Offences Act.

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Key issues from Monitor

There was no news from Monitor this week

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APHG and Website

Forthcoming Meetings

Wednesday 1^st March

MRSA AND HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS

Speakers:

Seminar 1 – Hygiene and Cleanliness

Professor Christine Beasley, Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health; Dr Beverly Malone, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing; Jean Lawrence, ICNA; Jenny Grey, NPSA; &, Professor Dickon Weir-Hughes, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Seminar 2 – Anti-Microbial Resistance

Professor Pat Troop CBE, Chief Executive of Health Protection Agency; Professor Richard Wise (SACAR); &, Professor Peter Borriello, Rapid Review Panel

MRSA and Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) have generated an enormous level of public interest and concern in the last 12 months. With some of the highest rates of MRSA incidence in Europe, the cost to the NHS is estimated to be in excess of £1 billion a year.

This meeting will be an excellent opportunity to hear the latest on the MRSA and HAIs debate, covering hygiene and cleanliness in the morning seminar and anti-microbial resistance in the afternoon.

Tuesday 21^st March

THE ROLE OF THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR IN THE NHS

Speakers: Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Health; Dr Jennifer Dixon, King’s Fund; &, Andy McKeon, Audit Commission

This meeting will consider the role of the independent sector in the NHS within the context of the NHS Plan; it will consider the advantages and disadvantages of this policy and the overall effect it will have on the National Health Service.

Wednesday 29^th March

OLDER PEOPLE’S SERVICES

Speaker: Professor Ian Philp, National Director for Older People

APHG held a Conference in 2004 entitled How do we deliver quality healthcare for an ageing population?, which addressed some of the main issues of an ageing population: whether expectations of elderly care could be delivered, the impact on the NHS and also alternative systems of care. Professor Ian Philp will readdress these issues and provide valuable insight into the state of Older People’s services in Britain.

If you wish to attend any of these meetings or if you require further details on any element of our programme, please do not hesitate to contact APHG on 020 7202 9415 or email lucy.cork@healthinparliament.org.uk.

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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