§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of reported cases of TB in(a) 1970, (b) 1980, (c) 1990 and (d) each of the last five years for which figures are available. [119105]
§ Yvette CooperThe information requested is given in the table:
Number of reported cases of tuberculosis, England and Wales Year Number 1970 11,901 1980 9,142 1990 5,402 1995 5,606 1996 5.654 1997 5,859 1998 6,087 1999 6,144 Source:
Public Health Laboratory Service data
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost to the NHS of treating a patient with TB in the last financial year for which figures are available. [119155]
167W
§ Yvette CooperThe average cost to the National Health Service of treating a patient with tuberculosis is not available. However, information on the national average cost for the inpatient treatment of an individual patient with tuberculosis for the 1998–99 financial year is available from the National Schedule of Reference Costs and is as follows:
£ Elective inpatient Non elective inpatient Day case Pulmonary or pleural tuberculosis 1,770 1,676 295 Other tuberculosis 1,400 1,800 293 Note:
Costs are the national average for inpatient treatment for patients with tuberculosis calculated from the individual NHS trust figures provided on an annual basis.
The length of inpatient stay for patients with tuberculosis varies. It should be noted that treatment for tuberculosis can last for six months or more and for most of this time the patient will not be hospitalised.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities have abandoned the school immunisation programme for TB. [119108]
§ Yvette CooperI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) on 11 January 2000,Official Report, column 144W.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities have reported cases of TB in each of the last five years. [119103]
§ Yvette CooperI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Vale of Clwyd (Mr. Ruane) on 28 February 2000,Official Report, columns 70-71W.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died from TB in the(a) 1970s, (b) 1980s and (c) 1990s. [119109]
§ Yvette CooperInformation provided by the Office for National Statistics shows that, between 1970 and 1979, there were 8,781 reported deaths from tuberculosis in England and Wales; between 1980 and 1989 there were 5,028 reported deaths from tuberculosis; and, between 1990 and 1998 (the latest available date for which data are available) there were 3,621 reported deaths from tuberculosis.
Notes:
Data are for England and Wales.
Tuberculosis is defined by ICD (8) and (9) 010-018.
Data from 1970 to 1992 are by date of registration; those from to 1998 are by date of occurrence.
§ Mr. PicklesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the programme of immunisation against TB among school age children. [119104]
§ Yvette CooperWe are advised on all matters concerning immunisation by the independent expert committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The committee keeps all immunisation policies under review.
168W
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason there was a shortage of tuberculosis vaccinations between October 1999 and April 2000; and what steps his Department has taken to improve the supply of vaccinations. [120401]
§ Yvette CooperI refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 11 January 2000,Official Report, columns 143-44W and on 13 April 2000,Official Report, column 282W.
§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions have taken place between Ministers in his Department and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency regarding the restoration of tuberculosis testing within secondary schools. [120370]
§ Yvette CooperThe National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency (formally NHS Supplies) provides a procurement service for the Department and does not make recommendations on the use of the vaccines.
The programme to test for tuberculosis and to immunise with BCG vaccine continues for people in higher risk groups, whatever their age. Only the routine BCG immunisation programme in schools is in suspension at present.