§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the sample information on postoperative infection held by his Department.
§ Mr. Hayhoe[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1985]: The available information is given in the table. The sample numbers are too small for reliable estimates to be made below regional level.
National Health Service hospitals*, 1983 Regional and special health authorities Estimated number of inpatient cases with a diagnosis of post-operative infection Northern 890 Yorkshire 1,150 Trent 1,800 East Anglian 740 North West Thames 1,050 North East Thames 1,590 South East Thames 1,160 South West Thames 910 Wessex 700 Oxford 460 South Western 2,090 West Midlands 1,260 Mersey 780 North Western 1,730 Special Health Authorities †70 England 16,380 * Excluding psychiatric and maternity units. † This estimate was based on a small sample number and should be treated with caution.