HC Deb 10 April 2002 vol 383 cc416-7W
Mr. Weir

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the United Kingdom by nation and region, are diagnosed as having Lou Gehrig's disease; and what percentage of these are veterans of the Gulf War in the last year for which figures are available. [23207]

Jacqui Smith

[pursuant to her reply, 14 January 2002, c. 65–66]:I regret that my previous reply was incorrect.

Lou Gehrig's disease is classified as Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in this country and there are between 5.000 and 6,000 sufferers of MND in the UK. Worldwide, the annual incidence of MND is estimated to be 1.5 new cases per 100,000 people. To date, the Ministry of Defence is aware of four veterans of the 1990–91 Gulf conflict who have been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, three of whom have died. The table shows the hospital admission figures for motor neurone disease in 2000–2001.

Admissions for motor neurone disease by region of residence Nhs Hospitals, England 2000–01
Number
Northern and Yorkshire Regional Office 396
Trent Regional Office 330
West Midlands Regional Office 169

Admissions for motor neurone disease by region of residence Nhs Hospitals, England 2000–01
Number
North West Regional Office 320
Eastern Regional Office 347
London Regional Office 269
South East Regional Office 359
South West Regional Office 295
England(NOS) 1
Scotland 2
Wales 16
Foreign 6
Not known 4
Total 2,514