HC Deb 01 August 1978 vol 955 cc269-70W
Mr. Newton

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what records are kept at hospital, district, area or regional level of the incidence of post-operative infection in British hospitals; and if he will take steps to collate and analyse the information available.

Mr. Moyle

The only statistics kept centrally of cases of post-operative infection are those where the infection was the cause of admission or readmission

AT 31ST MARCH 1977
(1) British Government Securities: Nominal value £000 Market value at 31st March 1977 £000
Ways and Means … … … … 4,415 4,443
Treasury Bills … … … … 550,000 547,575
11½ percent. Treasury Stock 1977 … … … … 52,500 53,387
10½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1978 … … … … 24,700 25,741
9 per cent. Treasury Stock 1978 … … … … 195,000 196,305
10½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1979 … … … … 178,650 190,060
11½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1979 … … … … 64,000 66,544
9½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1980 … … … … 145,825 151,427
9 per cent. Treasury Convertible Stock 1980 … … 62,000 62,753
11½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1981 … … … … 128,225 138,027
9¾ per cent. Treasury Stock 1981 … … … … 70,250 74,377
8½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1980–82 … … … … 31,000 31,239
14 per cent. Treasury Stock 1982 … … … … 100,000 115,864
12 per cent. Treasury Stock 1983 … … … … 9,000 9,765
8½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1984–86 … … … … 52,620 49,989
7¾ per cent. Treasury Stock 1985–88 … … … … 90,120 77,053
5 per cent. Treasury Stock 1986–89 … … … … 17,000 11,390
13 per cent. Treasury Stock 1990 … … … … 140,715 154,083
12¾ per cent. Treasury Stock 1992 … … … … 118,625 125,149
12¼ percent. Exchequer Stock 1992 … … … … 89,974 16,645
12½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1993 … … … … 101,700 105,260
13¾ percent. Treasury Stock 1993 … … … … 60,000 66,300
9 per cent. Treasury Stock 1994 … … … … 11,000 8,965
14½ per cent. Treasury Stock 1994 … … … … 116,750 132,511
12¾ per cent. Treasury Stock 1995 … … … … 133,250 141,911
13¼ per cent. Exchequer Stock 1996 … … … … 70,500 77,198
15¼ per cent Treasury Stock 1996 … … … … 60,000 73,575
13¼ per cent. Treasury Stock 1997 … … … … 128,265 137,244
(2) Local Authority Stocks … … … … 35,276 36,391
(3) Local Authority Mortgage Loans … … … … 699 699
(4) Local Authority Temporary Loans … … … … 456,945 456,945
3,299,004* 3,338,815
* Includes stock partly paid as follows:
12¼ per cent. Exchequer Stock 1992 … … … … £89,973,500.00 15 per cent, paid
Local Authority … … … … £276,500.00 10 per cent, paid

to hospital and was the main diagnosis. Such data are obtainable from the hospital in-patient enquiry. Other statistics of post-operative infection are not kept centrally. Individual case notes kept by hospitals will normally record postoperative infections. Health authorities will determine whether there is an operational requirement for the collation and analysis of this information locally. I can see no justification for requiring that additional administrative cost be incurred by its routine collection centrally.