Mike O'Brien: In November, the Government and medicines supply chain stakeholders published joint guidance to manufacturers and wholesalers on their existing legal responsibilities. On 2 March, the Government hosted a summit at which we agreed a further package of actions to ensure that patients continue to get the medicines that they need.
Mike O'Brien: Research and development money is only part of the issue. The key issue is that patients are sometimes not getting the medicines that they need. That is what parallel exporting is all about; it is not so much about the research and development that takes place in a number of centres. When patients go to the chemist, they want to know that the medicines they need will be there.
Mike O'Brien: It is certainly the case that we dealt with this issue during the course of last year and we also published the guidance, to which I have referred, in the same period. Furthermore, at the summit we held with stakeholders at the start of this month, a package of proposals was agreed, including a more explicit duty on manufacturers and wholesalers to provide medicine to NHS patients, target...
Mike O'Brien: Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust has met the 18 weeks standard in every month since August 2008. The standard allows patients to choose to wait longer, or alternatively to wait longer when that is clinically appropriate. It is reported that 5,649 patients at the trust have waited more than 18 weeks.
Mike O'Brien: I will certainly write to the hon. Gentleman, but may I just say to him that there are issues in relation to some orthopaedic patients and, I think, three patients in urology and one in neurosurgery, but they are quite complex issues involving staffing levels? Nothing I have said to him contradicts that, but if he wishes me to write to him, I will be very happy to do so.
Mike O'Brien: Overall primary care trust funding rose by 5.5 per cent. in this financial year and it will rise by 5.5 per cent. in the financial year 2010-11. Under Labour, these rises of 11.3 per cent. overall will be locked in for two further years up to 2013. In addition, the NHS is looking to make savings of £15 billion to £20 billion, which will be reinvested in NHS budgets.
Mike O'Brien: Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT will receive £358 million and £378 million in this financial year and next, which is an increase over the two-year period of £38.4 million, or 11.3 per cent. That is what we are planning for the hon. Gentleman's area. I should tell him that, contrary to what his website says, there are no "secret plans" to close his accident and emergency department...
Mike O'Brien: My hon. Friend is right that we need to ensure, in accordance with the Bradley report, that mental health issues are given a very high priority. We heard questions earlier about assaults on staff and relevant matters; mental health issues might be a factor in such cases. The NHS and other public services must, increasingly, address that area.
Mike O'Brien: As I have already indicated, as far as we are concerned there will be an 11.3 per cent. increase this year and next year, and we are locking that increase in for the NHS for a further two years. Overall, for the next three years, we are going to see an increase not only on current budgets, but again next year.
Mike O'Brien: As far as we are concerned, we are guaranteeing primary care trust budgets-that is what we are talking about: front-line services-in real terms. We are going to see an increase in those budgets, and we have already seen substantial increases in staffing. Everyone out there who is watching these proceedings and considering how to vote at the next election will remember that the Conservatives...
Mike O'Brien: The hon. Gentleman voted against the Wanless report and did not want national insurance to be increased for the NHS, and the Conservatives did not provide any of the extra funding that we have put into the health service in the past decade. Does anyone seriously think that they can be trusted with the NHS? I suspect that most members of the public do not. We will be able to test that in due...
Mike O'Brien: My hon. Friend is quite right. We need to ensure that the funding formula properly and accurately reflects issues related to population change, which can be significant in particular areas. We need to work through some of those issues, taking a great deal of care, with the other Departments that are affected by this issue.
Mike O'Brien: My hon. Friend is quite right. Children's centres are absolutely crucial in breaking down barriers and improving children's health and well-being. That is why the Government will ensure that funding for children's centres is given due priority-unlike the Opposition, who we know plan to cut funding for children's centres.
Mike O'Brien: We need to ensure that PCTs and trusts are accountable to local people-that is the whole basis on which we have introduced the system of decentralisation in the NHS. Improving the quality of that accountability is therefore crucial. If we have learned anything from the Mid Staffordshire debacle, it is that trusts need to be in contact with local people.
Mike O'Brien: Of course health trusts need to listen to people and ensure that they make local decisions to manage health provision effectively, based on delivering quality care to people and ensuring that it is done at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer.
Mike O'Brien: I hear what the hon. Lady says as far as Southampton is concerned. It is important that health trusts manage their budgets, but it is also important that they prioritise the quality of care for patients and ensure that patient safety comes first. I understand that in last night's debate, the hon. Lady's party's Treasury spokesman said that he would not guarantee funds for the NHS.
Mike O'Brien: As far as high-speed rail is concerned, we certainly need to ensure that there is proper local consultation and that local communities' concerns are fully considered in respect of any route. If there are impacts on public provision, as the hon. Gentleman describes, we need also to ensure that alternative provision is in place so that there is no lack of services for local people.
Mike O'Brien: I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) on securing the debate and on recognising the hard work and dedication of clinicians and staff leading the changes to the NHS in that constituency and across the rest of the capital. Her constituents deserve the very best of health care, and that is what we want to ensure they are provided with. Despite...
Mike O'Brien: I will give way in just a moment. Lord Darzi did that by engaging clinicians on the quality of care, and that is the basis upon which change must be made. However, let us be clear about this and, just for once, be honest with our constituents. It is important that hon. Members are honest with their constituents. Change does require change. It requires that hospitals and what people have been...
Mike O'Brien: Perhaps a little less aggression from the hon. Gentleman might be in order on this occasion. It is important that NHS provision in London is clinically based on quality, and not financially driven. I have been very clear with managers in London and around the country that the NHS has priorities. The first priority is patient safety and patient care, and the second relates to targets and...