To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to improve services for (a) cancer, (b) accident and emergency, (c) paediatric and (d) geriatric patients in Coventry. (278802)

This information is not held centrally. It is for primary care trusts to commission services in line with local needs and the priorities set out in “The Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2009-10”. A copy of this document is already available in the Library.

The target that no patient would spend more than four hours in accident and emergency (A&E) departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge was set in the NHS Plan in 2000. The target became an operational standard in 2005.

In 2003, a 98 per cent. minimum operating figure was set for delivery of the access standard to allow for the minority of patients who clinically need more than four hours in A&E.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to improve health services for victims of sexual crimes in Coventry. (278803)

The Department is working with the Home Office to deliver the Response to Sexual Violence Programme. The aim is to set up more sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) in line with the Home Secretary’s commitment to increasing provision to one per police force area. SARCs are intended to provide a holistic service for the victims of sexual assaults, including meeting the victim’s clinical needs as well as a forensic examination, counselling and the opportunity to give evidence anonymously.

The Department has also announced £1.4 million for the National Support Team on Response to Sexual Violence, which will work in local areas to bring together experts from the health service, forensics services, the Crown Prosecution Service and the police to advise on meeting local needs.

Within the West Midlands area the police and local partners are working together to agree a strategic approach for providing sexual violence services.