§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned into spondylolisthesis. [177106]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 7 June 2004]: The Medical Research Council (MRC) currently supports three on-going clinical trials looking at interventions to relieve low back pain, including both recurrent and chronic back pain that may be of relevance to spondylolisthesis. A further MRC trial has recently been completed and the results are soon to be published. The clinical trials include comparison of the effectiveness of surgery to stabilise the 366W spine with physiotherapy rehabilitation, and comparisons of various other interventions including exercise and manipulation by massage, chiropractors, osteopaths, or physiotherapists, and use of the Alexander technique.
§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice has been given to primary care trusts on treatment of spondylolisthesis. [177148]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 7 June 2004]: No advice has been given to primary care trusts on the treatment of spondylolisthesis. However, the Department is driving forward a major programme of work to improve equality of access to all national health service treatment and care services. Priorities for health and social care are set out in "Improvement, Expansion and Reform", the priorities and planning framework for 2003–06. Although spondylolisthesis is not identified specifically, people with this condition stand to benefit from the general improvement in access to specialist care we are bringing about, including for patients with any form of orthopaedic condition.