§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in England and Wales have undergone surgery for the fitting of a stoma during 1982 and 1983, respectively.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not collect specific information on the number of operations associated with stomata carried out in the NHS centrally.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of nurses qualified in stoma care in England and Wales.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies, whose responsibilities were taken over by the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visitors on 1 July 1983, developed curricula for two post basic nursing courses on stoma care. The courses are
ENBCC 216 Stoma Care Nursing for Registered General Nurses (Duration 8–9 weeks) Curriculum available from 1973.ENBCC 980 Short Course on the Principles of Stoma Care (Duration 5–8 days) Curriculum available from 1977.In England and Wales up to 30 June 1983, the joint board had awarded 242 certificates for successful completion of the 216 course, and 216 certificates for the 980 course.
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§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the total number of people in England and Wales exempt from prescription charges because of permanent colostomy surgery indicating those below and those above pensionable age.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not collect information on the number of people with a permanent colostomy but all are exempt from prescription charges whatever their age.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many colostomy appliances were purchased by the National Health Service in the years 1982 and 1983, respectively; and if he will list the various companies from whom the appliances were purchased, indicating the total National Health Service sales of appliances by each one.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIt is not possible to provide figures on the use by hospitals of these appliances because we do not collect this detailed local information centrally. In the family practitioner services 535,000 prescriptions were dispensed in 1982 and 272,000 in the first six months of 1983 (the latest period for which figures are available) in Great Britain for ostomy appliances. These prescriptions include appliances for use following colostomy, urostomy and ileostomy operations, and individual figures are not available for each category.
Approximately 20 companies supply the ostomy equipment which is prescribed and dispensed in the NHS. Information on their sales is not held, and if it were the details would be confidential because of its commercial value.