§ Mr. BaronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to collect figures on the numbers of people with neurological conditions in England. [142630]
§ Dr. LadymanWe do not ask the national health service to collect data on the incidence of individual neurological conditions such as neurology because of the enormous range of conditions and diseases that exist.
However, the Department of Health has already commissioned a series of research studies, following the announcement of the national service framework (NSF) for long-term conditions, to assist the work of the external reference group. Emphasis has been placed on reviews of existing evidence, rather that on the collection of new data.
The studies include:
an epidemiological study of head injury data gathering in four UK sites;around (£2 million) of research to underpin the implementation of the NSF;a working group looking at research and evidence issues for the NSF.Also, the Neurological Alliance recently published a brief review of the numbers of people in the UK with a neurological condition.