Header

Portcullis

Weeks 2^nd February - 12^th February

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 the Houses and in Westminster Hall, and links to written statements and answers.

Department of Health
Links to the main news from the Department of Health, including topical health issues 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.

Sub-header

Major Developments (2^nd – 12^th February)

APHG meeting programme announced

Please see ‘APHG and Website’ below for details

Performance measurements under review

Secretary of State for Health Dr John Reid last week announced to a conference of NHS chief executives a shift towards a smaller number of "quality objectives" for hospitals to meet.

Over the next 12 weeks, the NHS will undergo a consultation to move away from a ‘target driven culture‘, which could have implications for the controversial ‘star’ system of hospital rating.

Under the current scheme, NHS trusts are awarded stars according to their performance in 62 key areas, such as waiting times and cleanliness. Under the proposed system, 24 core standards and 10 developmental standards would be imposed instead, covering the areas of safety, clinical cost effectiveness, governance, patient focus, accessible and responsive care, healthcare environment and amenities and public health.

Healthy Living

MPs were given a chance to quiz Government departments on ‘cross cutting’ issues, such as obesity, cannabis and tobacco smoking in a Westminster Hall Question session next week. Obesity, as expected, figured heavily in proceedings, especially as the Health Committee has yet to reschedule its final evidence session of its enquiry into the topic

See Westminster Hall Debates below for details

Stem cell research

Stem cell research, a topic to be covered by the Lord Prof Robert Winston, at the APHG meeting in March, was at the top of the agenda again, following the announcement that a team of South Korean scientists had successfully extracted stem cells from a cloned human embryo.

Lord Winston will outline his opinions on the medical and ethical questions surrounding the issues of human reproductive medicine and genetics.

See APHG and Website for more details

Sub-header

The Week Ahead (16^th – 20^th February)

The House is in half term recess, and returns on Tuesday 24^th February

Sub-header

This Past Week (2^nd – 12^th February)

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Health Questions l Questions to the Prime Minister l Westminster Hall Debates l Written Ministerial Statements l Legislation l Written Answers (A-Z) l The Committee Corridor l Early Day Motions

HOUSE OF LORDS

Lords Chamber l Written Answers (Lords)

____________________________________________________

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Parliamentary Health Questions – Answered in the Chamber

There were no oral health questions in thr chamber, though see Healthy Living [12 Feb 2004] Westminster Hall Cross-Cutting Questions

Questions to the Prime Minister (4^th February)

Mr. Andrew Dismore (Hendon)— Engagements [4 Feb 2004] ]

Westminster Hall and Adjournment Debates

WESTMINSTER HALL

Sickness and Disability Benefits [3 Feb 2004]

School Meals and Children's Diets [4 Feb 2004]

Health Funding (Buckinghamshire) [10 Feb 2004]

Organ Donation (Presumed Consent and Safeguards) [3 Feb 2004]

Laser Eye Surgery [4 Feb 2004]

Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill [6 Feb 2004]

Respiratory Disease and Ambulatory Oxygen [10 Feb 2004]

Cervical Screening [11 Feb 2004]

Legislation

Current legislation on Gender Recognition is in the Lords

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
___________________________________________________________________