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2005-06 (571)
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department has made in reducing waiting times for genetic tests for breast cancer in Newark constituency over the last 12 months.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department has made in reducing waiting times for genetic tests for breast cancer in Newark constituency over the last 12 months.
Asked by
Patrick Mercer
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
1 November 2006
For answer on
6 November 2006
Answered on
8 November 2006
The Department does not collect data centrally on waiting times for genetic tests for inherited forms of breast cancerHowever, this Government do recognise that some patients have experienced long waits for genetic tests in the past and this will have caused stress and anxiety. This is unacceptable.The genetics White Paper ‘Our Inheritance, Our Future—realising the potential of genetics in the NHS’, published in June 2003, committed up to £18 million for NHS genetics laboratories in England. This major investment is boosting capacity and supporting modernisation in genetics laboratories, thus helping them meet the rising demand for genetic tests.To ensure that this investment resulted in real patient benefit, the White Paper set out new standards for genetic test turn around times, to be achieved by the end of 2006. These are:"within three days where the result is needed urgently, for example, for prenatal diagnosis;""within two weeks where the potential genetic mutation is already known, for example, because another family member has already been tested; and""within eight weeks for unknown mutations in a large gene."This money was allocated during the last two financial years (2004-05 and 2005-06) and laboratories are working hard to get their new facilities up to speed to meet these standards.The Department is monitoring molecular genetics laboratories' progress through the commissioners of genetic services. On current plans the laboratories serving the population in the Newark area expect to be delivering these standards for genetic tests for breast cancer by the end of 2006.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Screening
Date
8 November 2006
Reference
451 c1800W;451 c1802W; 99883
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time target is for a routine bone scan; and what the average waiting time was for a routine bone scan in each year since 2001.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time target is for a routine bone scan; and what the average waiting time was for a routine bone scan in each year since 2001.
Asked by
Julia Goldsworthy
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Andy Burnham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
12 October 2006
For answer on
16 October 2006
Answered on
8 November 2006
Historically the Department has not kept diagnostic waiting time data. A new national data collection commenced in January 2006 and the median waiting time for a DEXA scan from the August 2006, monthly collection (published on 18 October 2006) is 5.4 weeks.
Subjects
Screening; Bone diseases
Date
8 November 2006
Reference
451 c1799W;451 c1801W; 94444
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of unreadable cervical smear tests since the implementation of liquid based cytology for cervical cancer screening.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of unreadable cervical smear tests since the implementation of liquid based cytology for cervical cancer screening.
Asked by
Sandra Gidley
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
16 October 2006
For answer on
18 October 2006
Answered on
8 November 2006
Following the evaluation of a Government funded pilot study of Liquid Based Cytology (LBC), the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) concluded in October 2003 that this new technology should be rolled out across the national health service (NHS). NICE concluded LBC will reduce the number of inadequate tests, meaning around 300,000 women a year will not have to go through the anxiety of being re-tested every year just because their slide could not be read.It will take five years to implement LBC across England as all staff who read the tests or take the samples from women will have to be retrained. As at September 2006, of the 142 laboratories that process cervical screening samples 67 have fully implemented LBC and 35 are intending to implement LBC by March 2007.The latest year for which statistics on the programme are available is 2004-05, which was at the start of the roll-out of LBC implementation. We are therefore yet to see a major reduction in the number of inadequate tests across the whole programme. However, we have seen a significant reduction in the pilot sites, which is shown in the following table:
We would expect to start seeing an effect of LBC on the rate of inadequate samples across the whole programme when the statistics for 2005-06 are published in December 2006.
| Percentage | ||
| Pilot site | Inadequate test results 2000-01 | Inadequate test results 2004-05 |
| Southmead Hospital (Bristol) | 9.7 | 0.9 |
| Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle) | 9.1 | 0.4 |
| Norfolk and Norwich | 7.5 | 1.5 |
Subjects
Cervical cancer; Screening
Date
8 November 2006
Reference
95223; 451 c1802W;451 c1804W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has any plans to extend the use of ultrasound scans to detect breast cancer; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she has any plans to extend the use of ultrasound scans to detect breast cancer; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Elliot Morley
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 October 2006
For answer on
26 October 2006
Answered on
8 November 2006
There is some evidence of the benefit of ultrasound in the primary screening of younger women at increased risk of breast cancer. However, ultrasound does produce high false positive rates and while ultrasound is accepted as a very effective technique for further assessment of abnormalities detected by mammogram there are no plans to extend the use of ultrasound scans to detect breast cancer.In their ‘Improving outcomes in breast cancer guidance’, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has recommended that a combination of clinical examination, mammography/ultrasound and image-guided core biopsy or fine needle aspiration, known together as the triple assessment, should be available for women with suspected breast cancer at a single visit. Both mammography and ultrasound imaging should be available.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Screening
Date
8 November 2006
Reference
451 c1799-800W;451 c1801-2W; 97846
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department has taken in response to recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer on page 37 of his annual report 2005 for the prevention of Kernicterus.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department has taken in response to recommendations made by the Chief Medical Officer on page 37 of his annual report 2005 for the prevention of Kernicterus.
Asked by
Stephen O'Brien
(Conservative)
Answered by
Ivan Lewis
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 October 2006
For answer on
20 October 2006
Answered on
7 November 2006
The Department has considered the recommendations made by the chief medical officer on page 37 of his annual report 2005. In response, a review of screening for Kernicterus has been commissioned by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC). The review will assess the case for screening against the NSCs internationally recognised screening criteria. The Department will consider whether additional information should be added to its ‘Pregnancy Book’ when it is next revised.
Subjects
Screening; Kernicterus
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
96101; 451 c1285W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the time taken to produce genetic testing results for breast cancer (a) in England and (b) in Northumberland since 2004; and whether the plan to clear the backlog of results from 2004 by February 2007 includes...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in the time taken to produce genetic testing results for breast cancer (a) in England and (b) in Northumberland since 2004; and whether the plan to clear the backlog of results from 2004 by February 2007 includes...
Asked by
Lord Beith
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 November 2006
For answer on
6 November 2006
Answered on
7 November 2006
The Department does not collect data centrally on waiting times for genetic tests for inherited forms of breast cancer.However, the Government recognise that some patients have experienced long waits for genetic tests in the past and this will have caused stress and anxiety. This is unacceptable.To improve access and cut waiting times, the genetics White Paper Our Inheritance, Our Future—realising the potential of genetics in the national health service, published in June 2003, committed up to £18 million for NHS genetics laboratories in England. This major investment is boosting capacity and supporting modernisation in genetics laboratories, thus helping them meet the rising demand for genetic tests.To ensure that this investment resulted in real patient benefit, the White Paper set out new standards for genetic test turn around times, to be achieved by the end of 2006. These are:"Within three days where the result is needed urgently, for example, for prenatal diagnosis;""within two weeks where the potential genetic mutation is already known, for example, because another family member has already been tested; and within eight weeks for unknown mutations in a large gene."This money was allocated during the last two financial years (2004-06), and laboratories are working hard to get their new facilities up to speed to meet these standards.We are monitoring molecular genetics laboratories’ progress through the commissioners of genetic services. The laboratories in two of the eight Specialised Commissioning Group areas are already meeting these standards for new referrals of genetic tests for breast cancer. Five of the rest are on track to achieve them by the end of 2006 and the remaining one by early 2007.Genetic services have drawn up plans locally to deal with backlogs, which for a number of reasons vary in size and nature between centres. Their rate of progress has also depended on the timescale for getting new equipment and processes operational. All areas are working to clear backlogs as quickly as possible.The plans to clear backlogs for the laboratory providing the service for Northumberland include samples referred for testing in 2005, and in 2006 prior to the additional capacity becoming available. The laboratory originally anticipated clearing all backlogs by February 2007. However current staff shortages and a greater than anticipated rise in demand for genetic testing services mean that the date for clearing all of the backlog is likely to slip to later in 2007.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Medical examinations; Screening
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
100050; 451 c1265-6W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) the average waiting time for breast cancer genetic test results was in (a) England and (b) Cannock Chase in the last period for which figures are available;
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) the average waiting time for breast cancer genetic test results was in (a) England and (b) Cannock Chase in the last period for which figures are available;
Asked by
Tony Wright
(Labour)
Answered by
Andy Burnham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
26 October 2006
For answer on
30 October 2006
Answered on
7 November 2006
The Department does not collect data centrally on waiting times for genetic tests for inherited forms of breast cancer.However, the Government recognise that some patients have experienced long waits for genetic tests in the past and this will have caused stress and anxiety. This is unacceptable.So, to improve access and cut waiting times, the genetics White Paper ““Our Inheritance, Our Future—realising the potential of genetics in the NHS””, published in June 2003, committed up to £18 million for NHS genetics laboratories in England. This major investment is boosting capacity and supporting modernisation in genetics laboratories, thus helping them meet the rising demand for genetic tests.To ensure that this investment resulted in real patient benefit, the White Paper set out new standards for genetic test turn around times, to be achieved by the end of 2006. These are:"within three days where the result is needed urgently, for example, for prenatal diagnosis""within two weeks where the potential genetic mutation is already known, for example, because another family member has already been tested; and""within eight weeks for unknown mutations in a large gene."This money was allocated during the last two financial years (2004-06), and laboratories are working hard to get their new facilities up to speed to meet these standards.We are monitoring molecular genetics laboratories’ progress through the commissioners of genetic services. The laboratories in two of the eight specialised commissioning group areas are already meeting these standards for genetic tests for breast cancer. Five of the rest are on track to achieve them by the end of 2006 and the remaining one by early 2007.We are currently reviewing progress since the publication of the genetics White Paper to see what more needs to be done to equip the NHS to deal with future demand for genetics services. In addition, I will be attending a summit on 23 November, organised by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, to discuss progress on these issues.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Medical examinations; Screening
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
451 c1264-5W; 98652
House
House of Commons
(2) what progress has been made on (a) reducing waiting times for breast cancer genetic test results and (b) strategy for the future of genetic services.
(2) what progress has been made on (a) reducing waiting times for breast cancer genetic test results and (b) strategy for the future of genetic services.
Asked by
Tony Wright
(Labour)
Answered by
Andy Burnham
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
26 October 2006
For answer on
30 October 2006
Answered on
7 November 2006
The Department does not collect data centrally on waiting times for genetic tests for inherited forms of breast cancer.However, the Government recognise that some patients have experienced long waits for genetic tests in the past and this will have caused stress and anxiety. This is unacceptable.So, to improve access and cut waiting times, the genetics White Paper ““Our Inheritance, Our Future—realising the potential of genetics in the NHS””, published in June 2003, committed up to £18 million for NHS genetics laboratories in England. This major investment is boosting capacity and supporting modernisation in genetics laboratories, thus helping them meet the rising demand for genetic tests.To ensure that this investment resulted in real patient benefit, the White Paper set out new standards for genetic test turn around times, to be achieved by the end of 2006. These are:"within three days where the result is needed urgently, for example, for prenatal diagnosis""within two weeks where the potential genetic mutation is already known, for example, because another family member has already been tested; and""within eight weeks for unknown mutations in a large gene."This money was allocated during the last two financial years (2004-06), and laboratories are working hard to get their new facilities up to speed to meet these standards.We are monitoring molecular genetics laboratories’ progress through the commissioners of genetic services. The laboratories in two of the eight specialised commissioning group areas are already meeting these standards for genetic tests for breast cancer. Five of the rest are on track to achieve them by the end of 2006 and the remaining one by early 2007.We are currently reviewing progress since the publication of the genetics White Paper to see what more needs to be done to equip the NHS to deal with future demand for genetics services. In addition, I will be attending a summit on 23 November, organised by Breakthrough Breast Cancer, to discuss progress on these issues.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Medical examinations; Screening
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
98653; 451 c1264-5W
House
House of Commons
What discussions the Department of Health has had with HM Treasury regarding provisions in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review to ensure that the National Health Service breast screening programme is adequately resourced to meet the demographic challenge posed by an ageing population and the expected increase in women aged 50...
What discussions the Department of Health has had with HM Treasury regarding provisions in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review to ensure that the National Health Service breast screening programme is adequately resourced to meet the demographic challenge posed by an ageing population and the expected increase in women aged 50...
Asked by
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Warner
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2006
We are discussing with HM Treasury the impact on costs of pay, prices and other underlying pressures on all aspects of health and social care. Decisions on resource allocation for particular programmes will be made after the Chancellor announces the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Finance; Screening
Date
7 November 2006
Reference
8012; 686 c107WA
House
House of Lords
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been screened for bowel cancer under the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme since its inception.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been screened for bowel cancer under the National Bowel Cancer Screening Programme since its inception.
Asked by
Nigel Evans
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
20 October 2006
For answer on
24 October 2006
Answered on
6 November 2006
Over 6,900 people have been screened since the start of the national bowel cancer screening programme.The bowel cancer screening programme is an ambitious project, and one of the first of its kind in Europe. When fully implemented, it will detect around 3,000 bowel cancers every year. We are committed to implementing this important programme.
Subjects
Screening; Bowel cancer
Date
6 November 2006
Reference
451 c758W; 97032
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her policy is on the screening of women aged 70 and above for breast cancer; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her policy is on the screening of women aged 70 and above for breast cancer; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Bob Russell
(Liberal Democrat)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
24 October 2006
For answer on
26 October 2006
Answered on
6 November 2006
There is currently insufficient evidence for inviting women aged over 70 for screening, but research is underway for the advisory committee on breast cancer screening. A final report is due in the next few weeks, and the committee will advise us on a way forward.Women aged over 70 are offered three yearly screening on request. Those who have already participated in the programme should be informed of this right after the age of 70.We have collaborated with Age Concern to produce the leaflet, ““Over 70? You are still entitled to breast screening””. The leaflet is widely available in general practitioner surgeries, health centres, breast screening units and Age Concern outlets.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Screening
Date
6 November 2006
Reference
451 c758W; 97600
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to encourage all eligible women to attend breast screening appointments; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to encourage all eligible women to attend breast screening appointments; and if she will make a statement.
Asked by
Mike Penning
(Conservative)
Answered by
Baroness Winterton of Doncaster
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
27 October 2006
For answer on
1 November 2006
Answered on
1 November 2006
Mammography is the most reliable method of detecting breast screening early but, like other screening tests, it is not perfect. Women invited to participate in the breast screening programme need to understand the potential benefits and harms in doing so and to be able to make an informed choice about whether or not they wish to proceed.Information provided to women must be honest, comprehensive and understandable. That is why the NHS cancer plan stated that all eligible women will receive a national information leaflet on breast screening, which is now sent out with each invitation for screening and can be viewed at www.cancerscreening.nhs.ukTo raise awareness about the availability of breast cancer screening, NHS cancer screening programmes issued a regional communications pack to all local breast screening programmes in 2004. The packs include advice on raising the awareness of screening, including posters, and supplement local activity to promote the availability of breast screening. We encourage all women to make an informed choice on whether to accept their invitations to be screened.
Subjects
Breast cancer; Diagnosis; Screening
Date
1 November 2006
Reference
98795; 451 c481-2W;451 c482W
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the implementation of the bowel cancer screening programme since 1 April; what the timetable is for further implementation of the programme; how many people have been screened; and how many people she expects will have the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made with the implementation of the bowel cancer screening programme since 1 April; what the timetable is for further implementation of the programme; how many people have been screened; and how many people she expects will have the...
Asked by
James Clappison
(Conservative)
Answered by
Ivan Lewis
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Tabled on
6 October 2006
For answer on
9 October 2006
Answered on
30 October 2006
Good progress has been made in rolling out the national bowel cancer screening programme.The programme consists of five programme hubs across England who will invite men and women to participate in the screening programme, send out the faecal occult blood (FOB) testing kits, analyse the returned kits and send out results. Ninety to 100 local screening centres will provide endoscopy services for the 2 per cent, of men and women who have a positive FOB test result.The five hubs have been confirmed as:"Rugby—West Midlands and the North West - began operations in July 2006;""Guildford—Southern - began operations in September 2006;""St Mark's—London - begins operations in October 2006;""Gateshead—North East; and""Nottingham—Eastern."All five hubs will be operational by March 2007.In addition to the hubs, the first six local screening centres have now been confirmed. Wolverhampton and Norwich began sending out invitations in July 2006, and South Devon and Liverpool began sending out invitations in September 2006. St Mark's London is due to begin sending out invitations in October 2006, with St George's London following in November 2006. The other eight sites due to become local screening centres in wave one of the programme, in 2006-07, will be confirmed as soon as possible, when they have satisfied quality and capacity criteria.We will be writing to the new strategic health authorities (SHAs) shortly for them to bid for their local endoscopy units to become local screening centres as part of wave two of the programme in 2007-08. It is up to SHAs to decide where local screening centres should be located for the benefit of their own populations.Over 4,550 people have been screened since the start of the national programme.The bowel cancer screening programme is an ambitious project, and one of the first of its kind in Europe. Full national roll-out in England is expected by December 2009 and when fully implemented, around two million men and women in their 60s will be screened every two years. We are committed to implementing this important programme.
Subjects
Screening; Bowel cancer
Date
30 October 2006
Reference
91770; 451 c159-60W
House
House of Commons
That this House welcomes the licensing in the UK of the first vaccine to prevent the causes of cervical cancer; notes that each year in the UK between 3,000 and 4,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and that 1,000 of these women die of the disease; recognises the important role Jo's Trust has played in raising the public profile and understanding of the causes of cervical cancer, and in providing support to women, their families and friends affected by pre-cancer and cancer of the cervix; shares Jo's Trust's concerns about the fall in the number of women attending cervical smear tests and recognises the need for more information about cervical screening to improve the early detection of cervical cancer; acknowledges that the vaccine will prevent loss of life and reduce the burden on women of cervical smears, colposcopies and related treatment; and urges the Government to implement a universal vaccination programme at the earliest possible date.
That this House welcomes the licensing in the UK of the first vaccine to prevent the causes of cervical cancer; notes that each year in the UK between 3,000 and 4,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and that 1,000 of these women die of the disease; recognises the important...
Primary sponsor
Julie Morgan
(Labour)
Type
Early day motions
Subjects
Cervical cancer; Screening; Vaccination
Date
25 October 2006
Reference
2862
House
House of Commons
Is the Minister concerned that the independent orthopaedic treatment centre in my constituency is not conducting diagnostic tests or, indeed, any tests on people who live on their own or do not have a telephone? That is clear discrimination against the single elderly and the poor, and it is a double whammy because, instead of being treated in Banbury, as in the past, the single elderly and people without telephones, who tend to be poorer members of the community, have to go to Oxford. That is disgraceful cherry-picking by those independent treatment centres, and the Minister and the Government should be ashamed.
Is the Minister concerned that the independent orthopaedic treatment centre in my constituency is not conducting diagnostic tests or, indeed, any tests on people who live on their own or do not have a telephone? That is clear discrimination against the single elderly and the poor, and it is a double whammy because, instead of being treated in Banbury, as in the past, the single elderly and people without telephones, who tend to be poorer members of the community, have to go to Oxford. That is disgraceful cherry-picking by those independent treatment centres, and the Minister and the Government should be ashamed.
Asked by
Tony Baldry
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department of Health
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 October 2006
If the health service was entirely independent I would not be able to intervene. However, that is not the case, so I shall certainly look into the concerns that the hon. Gentleman has raised, speak to the relevant health managers and strategic health authority, and write to him with a response.
Subjects
Diagnosis; Hospitals; Waiting lists; Screening; Banbury
Date
24 October 2006
Reference
450 c1378-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Everyone connected with Staffordshire general hospital has performed magnificently in the past couple of years to reduce long waits for diagnostic tests such as MRI scans. However, managers have told me that there is still an enormous challenge if they are to meet the Government’s ambitious target for 2008 of a maximum wait of 18 weeks from GP surgery to operating theatre. Will my hon. Friend tell me—and, through me, those managers—about the support available over the next 12 months to make sure that waits for diagnostic tests are not the weak point in that very ambitious target?
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Everyone connected with Staffordshire general hospital has performed magnificently in the past couple of years to reduce long waits for diagnostic tests such as MRI scans. However, managers have told me that there is still an enormous challenge if they are to meet the Government’s ambitious target for 2008 of a maximum wait of 18 weeks from GP surgery to operating theatre. Will my hon. Friend tell me—and, through me, those managers—about the support available over the next 12 months to make sure that waits for diagnostic tests are not the weak point in that very ambitious target?
Asked by
David Kidney
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 October 2006
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. I, too, pay tribute to the staff of Staffordshire hospital who have worked to make the health service the high-quality service that the people of Stafford have the right to expect. As for the specific question of imaging scans, from April 2006, people who do not receive an appointment within 20 weeks are offered the choice of a scan from another provider within that period. We are driving the system to ensure that there is a guaranteed minimum standard. The great prize for the national health service is the historic 18-week target from the door of the GP surgery to the door of the operating theatre. The achievement of that target would be the greatest manifestation of a modern health service, and it would effectively mean the ending of waiting lists in the NHS. We will ensure that our staff receive all the necessary support to enable us to deliver that historic goal.
Subjects
Diagnosis; Waiting lists; Screening; Hospitals; Staffordshire General Hospital
Date
24 October 2006
Reference
450 c1378
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The average waiting time for the 15 key diagnostic tests on which we collect monthly data was five and a half weeks for patients waiting at the end of August—down from seven weeks in January, when the NHS first started collecting diagnostic data.
The average waiting time for the 15 key diagnostic tests on which we collect monthly data was five and a half weeks for patients waiting at the end of August—down from seven weeks in January, when the NHS first started collecting diagnostic data.
Answered by
Ivan Lewis
(Labour)
Asked by
David Kidney
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Oral answers to questions
What the average waiting time was for patients requiring diagnostic tests in England in the latest period for which figures are available.
Subjects
Diagnosis; Hospitals; Waiting lists; Screening
Date
24 October 2006
Reference
450 c1378
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
If the health service was entirely independent I would not be able to intervene. However, that is not the case, so I shall certainly look into the concerns that the hon. Gentleman has raised, speak to the relevant health managers and strategic health authority, and write to him with a response.
If the health service was entirely independent I would not be able to intervene. However, that is not the case, so I shall certainly look into the concerns that the hon. Gentleman has raised, speak to the relevant health managers and strategic health authority, and write to him with a response.
Answered by
Ivan Lewis
(Labour)
Asked by
Tony Baldry
(Conservative)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Oral answers to questions
Is the Minister concerned that the independent orthopaedic treatment centre in my constituency is not conducting diagnostic tests or, indeed, any tests on people who live on their own or do not have a telephone? That is clear discrimination against the single elderly and the poor, and it is a double whammy because, instead of being treated in Banbury, as in the past, the single elderly and people without telephones, who tend to be poorer members of the community, have to go to Oxford. That is disgraceful cherry-picking by those independent treatment centres, and the Minister and the Government should be ashamed.
Subjects
Diagnosis; Hospitals; Waiting lists; Screening
Date
24 October 2006
Reference
450 c1378-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What the average waiting time was for patients requiring diagnostic tests in England in the latest period for which figures are available.
What the average waiting time was for patients requiring diagnostic tests in England in the latest period for which figures are available.
Asked by
David Kidney
(Labour)
Answered by
Ivan Lewis
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
18 October 2006
For answer on
24 October 2006
Answered on
24 October 2006
The average waiting time for the 15 key diagnostic tests on which we collect monthly data was five and a half weeks for patients waiting at the end of August—down from seven weeks in January, when the NHS first started collecting diagnostic data.
Subjects
Diagnosis; Hospitals; Waiting lists; Screening
Date
24 October 2006
Reference
450 c1378; 95968
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. I, too, pay tribute to the staff of Staffordshire hospital who have worked to make the health service the high-quality service that the people of Stafford have the right to expect. As for the specific question of imaging scans, from April 2006, people who do not receive an appointment within 20 weeks are offered the choice of a scan from another provider within that period. We are driving the system to ensure that there is a guaranteed minimum standard. The great prize for the national health service is the historic 18-week target from the door of the GP surgery to the door of the operating theatre. The achievement of that target would be the greatest manifestation of a modern health service, and it would effectively mean the ending of waiting lists in the NHS. We will ensure that our staff receive all the necessary support to enable us to deliver that historic goal.
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. I, too, pay tribute to the staff of Staffordshire hospital who have worked to make the health service the high-quality service that the people of Stafford have the right to expect. As for the specific question of imaging scans, from April 2006, people who do not receive an appointment within 20 weeks are offered the choice of a scan from another provider within that period. We are driving the system to ensure that there is a guaranteed minimum standard. The great prize for the national health service is the historic 18-week target from the door of the GP surgery to the door of the operating theatre. The achievement of that target would be the greatest manifestation of a modern health service, and it would effectively mean the ending of waiting lists in the NHS. We will ensure that our staff receive all the necessary support to enable us to deliver that historic goal.
Answered by
Ivan Lewis
(Labour)
Asked by
David Kidney
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Type
Oral answers to questions
I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. Everyone connected with Staffordshire general hospital has performed magnificently in the past couple of years to reduce long waits for diagnostic tests such as MRI scans. However, managers have told me that there is still an enormous challenge if they are to meet the Government’s ambitious target for 2008 of a maximum wait of 18 weeks from GP surgery to operating theatre. Will my hon. Friend tell me—and, through me, those managers—about the support available over the next 12 months to make sure that waits for diagnostic tests are not the weak point in that very ambitious target?
Subjects
Diagnosis; Hospitals; Waiting lists; Screening
Date
24 October 2006
Reference
450 c1378
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons