§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people with spinal cord injury have not received specialist treatment at a spinal injuries unit in each of the last three years; [42653]
(2) how many people with acute spinal cord injury are awaiting admittance to a spinal injuries unit; [42649]
(3) how many people diagnosed with spinal cord injury died before reaching a spinal injuries unit, in each year since 1990–91. [42652]
§ Mr. MilburnThe information requested is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies have been undertaken or commissioned by his Department on(a) the quality of life and (b) the long term cost of care of people with spinal cord injury who (i) received treatment and (ii) did not receive treatment at a spinal injuries unit; [42650]
(2) what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) proposes into (i) the incidence and (ii) the prevalence of spinal cord injury. [42648]
§ Mr. MilburnThe Department's policy research programme and the central National Health Service research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research into spinal cord injuries. However, many NHS trusts support programmes of research and development, some of which are considerable. The NHS supports clinical trials in spinal injuries which are conducted within its facilities. A comprehensive database for the projects funded under these programmes is currently under development.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with spinal cord injury are currently being treated in(a) spinal injuries units and (b) non-specialist hospitals. [42651]
§ Mr. MilburnWe do not collect the information in the form requested. However, information for in-patient treatment, for the latest year available, 1995–96, is shown in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library, and is based on finished consultant episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants.