§ Mr. George HowarthTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information he has as to what proportion of pain sufferers recorded as suffering from pain of over three months duration are over the age of 60 years; and what provision is being made for them;
(2) what provision is being made under the National Health Service to help pain sufferers;
(3) what information he has as to how many patients at any given time are recorded as suffering from pain lasting for three or more months which is unrelieved or only marginally alleviated by treatment.
§ Mr. FreemanThe information requested is not held centrally. Relief of pain is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctors responsible for the care of the patient. Some health authorities do provide pain clinics. This is a matter for local decision in the light of the health authority's assessment of local needs and priorities.