§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost was to the NHS of treating of(a) asthma and (b) hay fever in the last year for which figures are available. [160130]
201W
§ Mr. DenhamThe information requested is not available in the format required.
National schedule of reference costs: average unit cost data by healthcare resource group (HRG)—1999 to 2000 HRG code HRG narrative Admission type Number of FCES Mean average £ Total cost£ D21 Asthma more than 49 years or with complications and comorbidities Day case 253 209 52,877 D21 Asthma more than 49 years or with complications and comorbidities Elective in-patient 1,193 1,742 2,078,206 D21 Asthma more than 49 years or with complications and comorbidities Non-elective in patient 82,503 1,043 86,050,629 D22 Asthma less than 50 years or without complications and comorbidities Day case 197 240 47,280 D22 Asthma less than 50 years or Without complications comorbidities Elective in-patient 466 1,260 587,160 D22 Asthma less than 50 years or without complications and comorbidities Non-elective in-patient 36,147 529 19,121,763 PO1 Asthma or recurrent Wheeze Day case 170 339 57,630 PO1 Asthma or recurrent Wheeze Elective in-patient 697 711 495,567 PO1 Asthma or recurrent Wheeze Non-elective in-patient 23,191 498 11,549,118 Total 120,040,230 The aggregate (total) figures have been produced using average cost figures only, and do not reflect specific costs in individual organisations. Activity data are based on fast-track data and need to be verified against final HES data where available, to ensure that "total" costs are not understated.
It should be stressed that these are "calculated" total cost figures and should be quoted in round terms, rather than assuming robust accuracy; for example, £120 million in 1999 –2000. The costs of primary care treatment of these conditions are not included in reference costs and would need to be added to these figures to give total costs.
§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual drugs bill for asthma was in each of the last five years. [160135]
§ Ms StuartThe information requested is not available centrally.
The costs of national health service prescription items for drugs used in the management of asthma and dispensed in the community in England from 1995 to 2000 (January to September) are shown in the table. Information on prescriptions dispensed in NHS hospitals is not available.
Number of prescription items and the associated net ingredient cost of drugs dispensed in the community for the management of asthma, 1995 to 1999, and 2000 (January to September), England Year Prescription items(Thousand) Net ingredient cost(£000) 1995 33,936 410,899 1996 34,500 438,266 1997 35,512 466,229 1998 36,468 498,037 1999 36,639 519,755 20001 27,044 388,215 1 January to September Notes:
1. The prescription information is from the Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) system and is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community, i.e. by community
202WThe table lists figures which relate to hospital-based admissions for asthma or recurrent wheeze which can include hay fever.
pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England. Also included are prescriptions written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England. The data do not cover drugs dispensed in hospital or private prescriptions.
2. The net ingredient cost is the basic cost of a drug. This cost does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.
§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to prevent(a) eczema, (b) hay fever and (c) asthma. [160132]
§ Mr. DenhamWe recognise that asthma is the commonest chronic illness in England and policy emphasises that preventive action is of great importance. Hay fever and other allergic diseases, while not having the same symptoms as asthma, must also be avoided where possible and Government-funded research is ongoing into the benefits of allergen avoidance and immunotherapy for such conditions.
We fund research through the Medical Research Council. The MRC's work includes basic research into the causes of asthma and allergies, with particular effort at present on analysing the genetic factors that predispose some individuals and families to asthma and eczema. The MRC is also conducting controlled trials of methods for managing and preventing asthma. The total MRC spend on allergy and asthma in 1999–2000 was £4 million.
Included in this total are three projects looking at the causes of hay fever (among other allergies) and exploring possible ways of curing the condition; the spend on these was £200,000 in 1999–2000.
§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost to the NHS of treating of eczema was to the NHS in each of the last five years. [160150]
§ Mr. DenhamThe Department does not centrally collect final total information on the cost of eczema to the national health service. However, information is available 203W on both the costs of NHS prescription items for drugs used in treating eczema and also costs relating to hospital based admissions for the condition.
The costs of NHS prescription items for drugs used in the treatment of asthma and dispensed in the community in England from 1995 to 2000 (January to September) are as follows: for 1995 the net ingredient cost was approximately £6.7 million; in 1996 £6.8 million; 1997 £6.6 million; 1998 £6.4 million; 1999 £6.3 million; and for the January to September 2000 period the net ingredient cost was approximately £4.5 million. Information on prescriptions dispensed in NHS hospitals is not available.
In respect of hospital-based admissions for eczema, aggregate (total cost) figures have been produced using average cost figures. For 1997–98 the total cost was approximately £10.2 million, for 1998–99 the total cost was approximately £29.4 million, and for 1999–2000 the total cost was approximately £30.1 million. Figures are not available for published reference costs prior to the 1997–98 financial year. The figures do not include the cost of primary care treatment of these conditions.
§ Mr. CrausbyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are diagnosed as sufferers from(a) eczema and (b) hay fever. [160134]
§ Mr. DenhamIt is not possible to state the number of people who have been diagnosed as suffering from allergies which include eczema and hay fever. This is due to the fact that many people diagnose themselves, and buy remedies at their local pharmacy, or are diagnosed by their general practitioners or appropriate clinic such as chest clinics or dermatology units. It is however estimated that at least 15 per cent. of the population is affected by allergy.
However, there were 8,000 admissions to national health service hospitals for 1999–2000 where the primary diagnosis could be described as asthma and 200 cases where the primary diagnosis could be described as hay fever (allergic rhinitus due to pollen).