HC Deb 23 November 1992 vol 214 cc506-7W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many research and specialist establishments exist within the United Kingdom for research and development into the treatment and cure of Ondine's syndrome;

(2) how many persons presently suffering from Ondine's syndrome are presently living within the United Kingdom.

Dr. Mawhinney

This information is not available for England. Responsibility for Ondine's syndrome in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is respectively a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to health authorities in cases where a patient, requiring treatment for Ondine's syndrome, lives within their area.

Mr. Sackville

As with other disorders, provision of health care for those suffering from Ondine's syndrome, is made by district health authorities who are responsible for assessing the health needs of their resident populations and purchasing services to meet those needs.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what level of expenditure was devoted to research into Ondine's syndrome for the last year for which figures are available.

Mr. Sackville

I am not aware of any expenditure being devoted to research specifically into Ondine's syndrome. The main agency through which the Government support medical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council (MRC), which receives its grant-in-aid from the Office of Public Service and Science. The MRC is always willing to consider scientifically sound proposals for research in competition with other applications.

Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of Ondine's syndrome have been detected annually in the years 1982 to 1992 inclusive.

Mr. Sackville

This information is not held centrally.