§ Mr. RedwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people died as a result of operations in National Health Service hospitals in 1986; and how many of these deaths resulted from(a) surgical error and (b) unnecessary operations.
§ Mrs. CurrieThis information is not held centrally. The recent report of the confidential inquiry into peri-operative deaths (CEPOD) looked at deaths in 1986 within 30 days operations. In three regions (Northern, South Western and North East Thames) it was found that the proportion of deaths which were attributable to avoidable surgical or anaesthetic factors was small. The overall death rate following half a million operations was found to be 0.7 per cent. Most of those who died were elderly and death was due to the progression of their illness or to other coexisting disease. One one in 25,000 operations resulted in death which was thought to be due solely to "avoidable surgical or anaesthetic factors", although there were "avoidable elements" in 0.14 per cent. which could have contributed to death. A copy of the CEPOD report has been placed in the Library.