Week of 21^st October 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 (17^th – 21^st October)

Health Select Committee Inquiry – Changes to Primary Care Trusts
The Health Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into potential changes to primary care trusts’ functions and numbers arising from Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS. For further details, please click here.

APHG Meeting

APHG held a breakfast briefing this week with the Independent Reconfiguration Panel’s Dr. Peter Barrett and Tony Shaw. For full details of the meeting, please see our website, www.healthinparliament.org.uk

Avian Influenza

An emergency question was scheduled this week on Avian Influenza – Secretary of State, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP stressed that ministers were taking proportionate actions based on the best available evidence and that confirmation of outbreaks in Turkey and Romania were not cause for panic. Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, also announced this week that the Department of Health is inviting manufacturers to tender for a contract to supply pandemic flu vaccine once the pandemic strain is known. The UK will need approximately 120 million doses to be available as soon as possible. The move comes alongside the publication of an updated version of the Pandemic Influenza Contingency plan. For further details, please click here.

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The Week Ahead (24^th – 28^th October)

Monday 24^th October

Ministers are meeting to agree on a compromise position on banning smoking in public places. The Health Improvement Bill, reported to be published this Wednesday, is now set to include proposals for pubs and clubs to have only sealed rooms for smokers.

Tuesday 25^th October

House of Commons Oral Questions – Health

House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee Evidence Session - Inquiry into Pandemic Influenza.

House of Lords (Oral question) - What action will be taken in response to the concerns about the potential effects of the European Union Physical Agents Electromagnetic Fields Directive on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services in the United Kingdom (B. Hayman).

Wednesday 26^th October

House of Lords - Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL]—Grand Committee [The Lord Evans of Temple Guiting] [2nd Report from the Delegated Powers Committee]

Thursday 27^th October

Health Select Committee Evidence Session - The Responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Health. The Committee will hear evidence from Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State for Health. 

House of Lords - The Baroness Wilkins will ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made on the Review of the Disabled Facilities Grant.

House of Lords (Legislation) - Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Amendment) Order 2005 [5th Report from the Joint Committee]

House of Lords (Legislation) - Commissioner for Older People (Wales) Bill [HL] (Grand Committee 3rd day, Moses Room).

Friday 28^th October

Private Members' Bills – Children's Food Bill - Mary Creagh (2R); Food Supplements (European Communities Act 1972 Disapplication) Bill (2R) - Mr William Cash

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This Past Week (17^th – 21^st October)

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

Avian Influenza [17 Oct 2005] (Emergency Question)

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Questions to the Prime Minister (19^th October)

Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North) – Availability of Herceptin

Mary Creagh (Wakefield) – Childhood obesity

Mr. Richard Benyon (Newbury) – West Yorkshire Primary Care Trust

Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) – Privatisation of health care workers

Clive Efford (Eltham) - Restucturing of primary care trusts

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Business of the House Thursday 20^th October

Bob Spink (Castle Point) (Con) – Basildon and Southend Hospitals

Mrs. Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside) (Lab/Co-op) – Government policy on banning smoking

Chris McCafferty (Calder Valley) (Lab) – CMO response to Shipman report

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con) – Ambulance Services in Staffordshire

Mr. Mark Harper (Forest of Dean) (Con) – Impact of Avian Flu

Mr. Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con) – NHS Dentistry in Kettering

Mr. Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con) – Community Hospitals

Westminster Hall Debates

Forensic Sciences [18 Oct 2005]

Mental Health Services (Cambridge) [18 Oct 2005]

Private Sector (NHS) [19 Oct 2005]

Spina Bifida and Folic Acid [19 Oct 2005]

Victoria Central Hospital, Wallasey [19 Oct 2005]

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Written Ministerial Statements

Controls on Smoking (Northern Ireland) [18 Oct 2005]

Health and Social Care Regulation [19 Oct 2005]

Health Strategy (Working-age People) [19 Oct 2005]

Influenza Contingency Plan [19 Oct 2005]

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency [18 Oct 2005]

Primary Care Trusts/Strategic Health Authorities [18 Oct 2005]

Specialist Services [19 Oct 2005]

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Chamber and Legislation

Avian Influenza [20 Oct 2005]

Emergency Preparedness [19 Oct 2005]

Pulmonary Disease (Surface Workers) [20 Oct 2005]

Mixed Sex Wards (Marlow) [19 Oct 2005]  (Petition from on Paul Goodman MP)

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Written Answers (A-Z by subject) – Select a letter.

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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
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A

"A Helping Hand for MPs" [17 Oct 2005]

Abortion [20 Oct 2005]

Abortions [18 Oct 2005]

Access to Treatment [17 Oct 2005]

Age Barriers [20 Oct 2005]

Agenda for Change [20 Oct 2005]

Alliance Medical [20 Oct 2005]

Alzheimer's [17 Oct 2005]

Ambulance Service [18 Oct 2005]

Ambulance Services [20 Oct 2005]

Anaesthetists [20 Oct 2005]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [20 Oct 2005]

Autism [17 Oct 2005]

Autism [20 Oct 2005]

Avian Influenza [17 Oct 2005]

Avian Influenza [18 Oct 2005]

Avian Influenza [19 Oct 2005]

Avian Influenza [20 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

B

Biopsy Specimens [20 Oct 2005]

Births [20 Oct 2005]

Blindness (Rehabilitation Workers) [20 Oct 2005]

Breast Cancer [20 Oct 2005]

Breast Cancer [20 Oct 2005]

Breast Screening [17 Oct 2005]

Breast-feeding [18 Oct 2005]

Burns Review [20 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

C

Cancelled Operations [18 Oct 2005]

Cancer Treatment [17 Oct 2005]

Cancers [18 Oct 2005]

Cardiomyopathy [18 Oct 2005]

Care Homes [18 Oct 2005]

Cataract Units [20 Oct 2005]

CCTV [20 Oct 2005]

Cervical Screening [17 Oct 2005]

Child Deaths [18 Oct 2005]

Childhood Obesity [18 Oct 2005]

Clostridium Difficile [18 Oct 2005]

Coeliac Disease [20 Oct 2005]

Communications Difficulties [20 Oct 2005]

Community Paediatric Clinics [20 Oct 2005]

Compact Mediation Scheme [17 Oct 2005]

Cystic Fibrosis [20 Oct 2005]

Cystic Fibrosis [20 Oct 2005]

Cytology [20 Oct 2005]

Deaf Children [18 Oct 2005]

Death Certification [17 Oct 2005]

Delayed Transfers of Care [18 Oct 2005]

Dementia [20 Oct 2005]

Dentistry [17 Oct 2005]

Dentistry [18 Oct 2005]

Departmental Land/Property [17 Oct 2005]

Diagnosis Treatment Centres [17 Oct 2005]

Disability Living Allowance [20 Oct 2005]

Disabled Access [17 Oct 2005]

Disabled Access [20 Oct 2005]

Disabled Drivers [20 Oct 2005]

Disabled Facilities Grants [20 Oct 2005]

Doctor Vacancies [17 Oct 2005]

Down's Syndrome [20 Oct 2005]

Drug Addiction (Crime) [19 Oct 2005]

Drug Appraisal [17 Oct 2005]

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D

BACK TO ALPHABETS

E

East Sussex Chief Executive [18 Oct 2005]

Eastern Health and Social Services Board [20 Oct 2005]

Emergency Contraception [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

F

Farm-related Accidents [18 Oct 2005]

Foot and Mouth [19 Oct 2005]

Foot and Mouth Disease (Brazil) [19 Oct 2005]

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G

General Practitioner Referrals [20 Oct 2005]

General Practitioners [17 Oct 2005]

GP Practices [18 Oct 2005]

GPs [20 Oct 2005]

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H

Health Boards [20 Oct 2005]

Health Finance [20 Oct 2005]

Health Service Administrators [17 Oct 2005]

Health Service Costs [17 Oct 2005]

Health Service Report [18 Oct 2005]

Health Services (Investment) [18 Oct 2005]

Health Services [18 Oct 2005]

Hearing Aids [20 Oct 2005]

Hip Replacements [20 Oct 2005]

Hospital Beds [20 Oct 2005]

Hospital Closures [20 Oct 2005]

Hospital Consultant Posts [18 Oct 2005]

Hospital Doctor Posts [18 Oct 2005]

Hospital Managers [17 Oct 2005]

Hospital Re-admissions [17 Oct 2005]

Hospital Staff (Assaults) [20 Oct 2005]

Hospital Telephone Calls [20 Oct 2005]

Hospital Treatments [17 Oct 2005]

Hospital Treatments [18 Oct 2005]

Hospital Violence [17 Oct 2005]

Hospital-acquired Infections [17 Oct 2005]

Hospital-acquired Infections [17 Oct 2005]

Hospital-acquired Infections [18 Oct 2005]

Hypertension [20 Oct 2005]

Hypothyroidism [20 Oct 2005]

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I

Incapacity Benefit [17 Oct 2005]

Infant Mortality [18 Oct 2005]

Influenza [18 Oct 2005]

Influenza Vaccines [20 Oct 2005]

International Recruitments [20 Oct 2005]

IVF Treatment [17 Oct 2005]

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J

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K

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L

Lung Cancer [18 Oct 2005]

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M

Male Breast Reduction [17 Oct 2005]

Management and Administrative Costs [20 Oct 2005]

Marfan Syndrome [20 Oct 2005]

Maternity Units [20 Oct 2005]

Medical Notes [17 Oct 2005]

Medical Services (Dudley) [17 Oct 2005]

Mental Health [18 Oct 2005]

Mental Health [20 Oct 2005]

Mesothelioma [20 Oct 2005]

Methadone [17 Oct 2005]

Methadone [20 Oct 2005]

Midwives [17 Oct 2005]

Midwives/Nurses [18 Oct 2005]

Missed Appointments [17 Oct 2005]

Missed Appointments [20 Oct 2005]

Mobile Communications (Interference) [20 Oct 2005]

MRSA [17 Oct 2005]

MRSA [18 Oct 2005]

Multiple Sclerosis [17 Oct 2005]

Multiple Sclerosis [18 Oct 2005]

Myasthenia Gravis [17 Oct 2005]

Myasthenia Gravis [20 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

N

National Pulmonary Hypertension Service [20 Oct 2005]

National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group [20 Oct 2005]

NHS (Overseas Workers) [20 Oct 2005]

NHS Direct [17 Oct 2005]

NHS Trusts [17 Oct 2005]

NHS Trusts [17 Oct 2005]

NHS Trusts [18 Oct 2005]

NICE [17 Oct 2005]

No Secrets Guidance [20 Oct 2005]

North Bristol NHS Trust [17 Oct 2005]

Nurses [17 Oct 2005]

Nutrition [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

O

Occupational Therapy [17 Oct 2005]

Oestrogen [18 Oct 2005]

Operations [17 Oct 2005]

Operations [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

P

Pakistani Midwives [20 Oct 2005]

Peripheral Vascular Disease [20 Oct 2005]

Physiotherapists [17 Oct 2005]

Physiotherapists [20 Oct 2005]

Pregnancy (Low-lying Placenta) [17 Oct 2005]

Prescription (Charges/Guidance) [20 Oct 2005]

Prescriptions (Pre-payment Certificates) [17 Oct 2005]

Pressure Sores [17 Oct 2005]

Primary Care Trusts [17 Oct 2005]

Primary Care Trusts [20 Oct 2005]

Private Finance Initiative [17 Oct 2005]

Private Sector NHS Treatment [20 Oct 2005]

Protection of Vulnerable People [17 Oct 2005]

Psychological Therapy [20 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

Q

BACK TO ALPHABETS

R

Respite Care [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

S

Scanning Services [20 Oct 2005]

School Nurses [17 Oct 2005]

Sexual Health Strategy [17 Oct 2005]

Sexually Transmitted Diseases [20 Oct 2005]

Sickness Absence [20 Oct 2005]

Sleep Apnoea [20 Oct 2005]

Smoking [17 Oct 2005]

Specialist Rehabilitation Beds [20 Oct 2005]

Stroke [20 Oct 2005]

Suicide Rate [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

T

Targets [20 Oct 2005]

Thyroid Patients [20 Oct 2005]

Trust Deficits [18 Oct 2005]

Tuberculosis [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

U

Unborn Children [18 Oct 2005]

Under-age Drinking [20 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

V

Vaccines [18 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

W

Waiting Lists [20 Oct 2005]

BACK TO ALPHABETS

X

BACK TO ALPHABETS

Y

Your Health, Your Care, Your Say [20 Oct 2005]

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Z

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The Committee Corridor

Health Committee

Wednesday 19^th October

Smoking in Public Places: written evidence received.

HTML version(browsable)
PDF version 

Thursday 20^th October

Smoking in Public Places Evidence Session No. 1

Evidence was heard from the Royal College of Physicians, Imperial Tobacco Limited (UK), Philip Morris Limited, Gallaher Group

Friday 21^st October

Announcement: New Inquiry – Changes to Primary Care Trusts
The Health Committee has decided to undertake an inquiry into potential changes to primary care trusts’ functions and numbers arising from Commissioning a Patient-Led NHS, including:

· Rationale behind the changes

·    &nb