HC Deb 02 February 1984 vol 53 cc335-6W
Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of people suffering from arthritis or rheumatism in England.

Mr. John Patten

As is well known, it is very difficult to arrive at any kind of an estimate of the number of people suffering from arthritis and rheumatism, given the many forms which these diseases may take, the wide variation in degree of severity of the conditions and the fact that many sufferers do not seek medical help. The survey "Handicapped and Impaired in Great Britain" published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in 1971 estimated that there were 870,000 adults living in private households suffering from some degree of impairment arising from rheumatoid athritis, osteo-arthritis and other arthritic conditions. Other estimates of rheumatic disorders are far higher.

Mr. Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the number of persons suffering from arthritis or rheumatism in each region in England who are not receiving hospital treatment because of lack of provision of specialist rheumatologists; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

I have no information available in the form requested but I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 1 November 1983 —[Vol. 47, c.365–66]— to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) which provided as at 30 September 1982 the number of persons in each regional health authority awaiting admission to the specialties of rheumatology and traumatic and orthopaedic surgery in which most hospital treatments for arthritis are carried out. These are the latest figures available.

A number of districts do not offer the service of a specialist rheumatologist; but these are not the only doctors of consultant status concerned with the care of sufferers from arthritis and rheumatism. For instance, general physicians, with or without an interest in rheumatology, and traumatic and orthopaedic surgeons also have relevant expertise.