HC Deb 04 April 1989 vol 150 cc89-90W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were treated for spina bifida during each of the last three years; what was the cost per patient; and if he will make a statement.

Number of (a) conceptions, (b) terminations with central nervous system malformation in foetus1 as principal medical condition,
England and Wales, Regional Health Authority of usual residence, 1985 to 1987
1985 1986 1987
(a) (000's) (b) (b) as a percentage of (a) (a) (000's) (b) (b) as a percentage of (a) (a) (000s) (b) (b) as a percentage of (a)
England and Wales 797.2 520 .07 818.9 557 .07 841.1 531 .06
Regional Health Authorities
Northern 46.1 44 .1 46.6 36 .08 47.1 56 .12
Yorkshire 56.2 27 .05 57.4 45 .08 58.7 33 .06
Trent 69.1 45 .07 70.9 63 .09 72.6 56 .08
East Anglian 28.6 21 .07 30.1 24 .08 30.7 23 .07
North West Thames 63.2 23 .04 64.5 20 .03 66.4 25 .04
North East Thames 69.3 40 .06 71.2 38 .05 74.5 43 .06
South East Thames 59.4 25 .04 62.9 25 .04 65.0 29 .04
South West Thames 46.0 22 .05 47.5 20 .04 48.9 18 .04
Wessex 41.8 34 .08 43.5 45 .1 44.5 29 .07
Oxford 39.3 24 .06 40.9 34 .08 42.1 25 .06
South Western 44.7 21 .05 45.9 36 .08 47.3 28 .06
West Midland 85.6 66 .08 87.3 42 .05 89.6 45 .05
Mersey 38.8 36 .09 39.4 25 .06 40.0 45 .11
North Western 65.9 49 .07 66.5 49 .07 68.5 46 .07
1 International classification of diseases (9th revision) 655.0

Mr. Freeman

The information requested for the East three years for which data are available centrally is given in the following table.

Estimated number of in-patients with main diagnosis of spina bifida (ICD 741 )1, discharged from National Health Service non- psychiatric hospitals, England
Number
1983 2,390
1984 1,960
1985 2,070
1 ICD—International Classification of Diseases: 9th revision.

The cost of hospital treatment is estimated at £1,500 per in-patient stay at 1987—88 prices. Expenditure on care of patients in the community cannot reliably be estimated from data held centrally.

Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of pregnant woman were screened for spina bifida during the last three years, listed by regions;

(2) how many pregnant mothers were screened for spina bifida during the last three years; what was the cost per patient; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

This information is not collected centrally. However, I understand that it is common clinical practice to offer screening for spina bifida to pregnant women.