§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people suffered from cystic fibrosis in(a) 1980, (b) 1990, ( c) 2000 and (d) 2003; [124338]
(2) how many people suffered from cystic fibrosis in (a) England, (b) Tyne and Wear, (c) South Tyneside and (d) the Jarrow constituency in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2003; [124339]
(3) what percentage of the population suffers from cystic fibrosis; [124340]
(4) what the average life expectancy is of a sufferer of cystic fibrosis; and what it was in (a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) 2000. [124342]
§ Dr. LadymanInformation on the incidence of individual conditions like cystic fibrosis is not collected centrally. Research evidence however, shows that around one child in 2,500 is affected by this condition. Separate information is not available for Tyne and Wear, South Tyneside and Jarrow.
Children born with cystic fibrosis do not have a normal life expectancy, though it is improving all the time. Currently, the average survival is more than 30 years, but with the best treatment, children have a greater than 80 per cent. chance of living into their late forties.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much does the NHS spend on cystic fibrosis in 2002–03; and how much this was expressed as a sum per head of population. [124341]
§ Dr. LadymanThe information requested is not collected centrally. Primary care trusts (PCTs) receive unified allocations to cover the costs of hospital and community health services. The level of funding made available for cystic fibrosis is therefore a local decision. It is for PCTs, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds.