§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to the National Health Service of coronary heart disease for the last year to a convenient date; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Whitney[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1986, c. 205]: It is not possible to estimate the total cost to the National Health Service as a whole of treating coronary heart disease, since data are not available on the proportion of general practitioners' time involved. Hospital costs can, however, be estimated using detailed data from the annual hospital in-patient inquiry returns. From these it is estimated that in 1982 (the latest year for which these returns have been analysed) the cost (revalued to 1984–85 cost levels) was £160 million.