§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Health from what date tertiary and cross-specialty referrals in hospitals were recorded as separate episodes of treatment in national health service statistics on out-patient and in-patient hospital activity; what the estimated impact of such a change has been on time-series comparisons of hospital activity prior to and since the change in recording methods; and if she will make a statement.
336W
§ Mr. SackvilleHospital activity has been measured in terms of finished consultant episodes since April 1987. The move to this sytem from the previous system, which recorded discharges and deaths, was designed to monitor more accurately the volume of work carried out by each consultant in each specialty. Data continued to be collected on the old basis of discharges and deaths until 1988–89. Comparisons of in-patient cases over time should not be affected as figures for 1988–89 are available on both basis. The change had no effect on the number of out-patient consultations.