§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make hyperbaric oxygen treatment for multiple sclerosis patients available on the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe view of the Medical Research Council and of the Department's neurosciences liaison committee is that the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen in the management of multiple sclerosis is at present unproven and I do not therefore consider the expenditure of National Health Service resources on its provision could be justified at 77W this stage. Our position will be reviewed when the findings of the clinical trials at present being undertaken, and any other relevant data, have been evaluated.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evaluation studies have been made of the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on multiple sclerosis patients; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe Department commissioned a review of research data on the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the management of multiple sclerosis in 1983. This review, carried out by Dr. J. Martin and Professor W. I. McDonald and published in theBritish Medical Journal on 31 March 1984, concluded that the research evidence then available was insufficient to substantiate claims that the treatment was effective, and recommended that further clinical trials be undertaken.
We are aware of two voluntary organisations that are currently conducting clinical trials on the use of the therapy. The Multiple Sclerosis Society has conducted trials at the Royal Victoria hospital in Newcastle and at Whipps Cross and St. Thomas' hospitals in London. All three are now completed and involved a total of 204 patients; the results of the Newcastle trial were published in the Lancet on 9 February 1985, and publication of the results of the other two trials is awaited. Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis is conducting clinical trials at the Western infirmary in Glasgow and at the Central Middlesex hospital in London involving a total of 180 patients, and the results are expected in 1986.
§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the centres providing hyperbaric oxygen treatment for multiple sclerosis patients.
§ Mr. WhitneyFacilities for hyperbaric oxygen therapy are provided in a number of National Health Service hospitals but not, as far as I am aware, specifically for the management of patients suffering multiple sclerosis except in the context of controlled clinical trials. I am informed that the therapy is provided for multiple sclerosis sufferers at 45 centres established by Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis.