§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of sleep apnoea sufferers in Northern Ireland in each of the last 20 years. [176854]
§ Angela SmithCurrent estimates suggest that in Northern Ireland there are 30,000 people with sleep apnoea of whom approximately 3,000 are categorised as having clinically significant sleep apnoea. Precise figures and historical data are not available.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of sleep apnoea sufferers receiving treatment with continuous positive airway pressure machines in Northern Ireland. [176859]
§ Angela SmithIt was estimated in September 2003 that there were approximately 430 sleep apnoea patients on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines in Northern Ireland.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many clinics for sleep apnoea sufferers there are in the Province. [176861]
§ Angela SmithA designated sleep apnoea clinic is held regularly in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the Belfast City Hospital.
Other hospitals in Northern Ireland have clinics which can assess sleep apnoea patients as well as patients with other respiratory problems.