Asked by: Baroness Wilkins (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Jane Ellison MP on 21 July (HC Deb, col 1009W), what assessment they have made of NHS England’s Spinal Cord Injury Service Specification of a minimum of 20 beds per unit against the criterion of providing a "safe and effective service".
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The fluctuations of waiting times and the ability to discharge a patient to the next phase of their care are key factors in enabling the admission of new patients to a centre. NHS England, the eight specialist centres in England and the Spinal Injuries Association are working together to recommend changes to the continuing care process that would enable spinal cord injured patients to move to the next stage of their care as soon as clinically appropriate.
The overall bed complement for England is being reviewed through a demand and capacity project, led by the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Clinical Reference Group (CRG). The CRG aims to produce a report in 2015-16.
NHS England’s SCI service specification clearly sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. It sets a core requirement that each specialised SCI Centre can demonstrate they have a minimum of 20 beds dedicated exclusively for the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients.
This requirement was developed by the SCI CRG and endorsed and was adopted by NHS England as the responsible commissioner.
Asked by: Baroness Wilkins (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the waiting lists for admission to the eight specialist spinal injury units in England of newly injured spinal cord patients prior to the review of demand and capacity by the Spinal Cord Injury Clinical Reference Group.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The fluctuations of waiting times and the ability to discharge a patient to the next phase of their care are key factors in enabling the admission of new patients to a centre. NHS England, the eight specialist centres in England and the Spinal Injuries Association are working together to recommend changes to the continuing care process that would enable spinal cord injured patients to move to the next stage of their care as soon as clinically appropriate.
The overall bed complement for England is being reviewed through a demand and capacity project, led by the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Clinical Reference Group (CRG). The CRG aims to produce a report in 2015-16.
NHS England’s SCI service specification clearly sets out what providers must have in place to offer evidence-based, safe and effective services. It sets a core requirement that each specialised SCI Centre can demonstrate they have a minimum of 20 beds dedicated exclusively for the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients.
This requirement was developed by the SCI CRG and endorsed and was adopted by NHS England as the responsible commissioner.
Asked by: Baroness Wilkins (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on costs to the National Health Service of repetition by wheelchair centres of assessments carried out at spinal injury units as a result of (1) extra in-patient days as a result of delayed discharge, and (2) the organisation of the transport and nurse or therapist escort of the in-patient to the wheelchair centre.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.
The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.
Asked by: Baroness Wilkins (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of extra in-patient days that result from repetition by wheelchair centres of assessments carried out at spinal injury units.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.
The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.
Asked by: Baroness Wilkins (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the procedure whereby wheelchair centres repeat the assessment of a spinal centre’s physiotherapist and seating consultant; and whether they are taking any steps to streamline the process.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.
The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.
Asked by: Baroness Wilkins (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that National Health Service wheelchair services do not delay discharge of patients at spinal injury units as a result of not assessing them for their wheelchair until two weeks before their due discharge date.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.
The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.