§ Baroness Jay of Paddingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the average cost of having a baby in the NHS, including ante-natal and post-natal care, for each of the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Baroness CumberlegeThe information requested is not held for the United Kingdom as a whole. Information, as held by the Department of Health and by the other health departments, is as follows:
England
Recorded expenditure by hospital (including obstetric in-patient and out-patient services) and community health services only. Expenditure by general practitioner services is not available.
92WA
Year Average cost per birth £ 11991–92 1,469 1990–91 1,217 1989–90 1,174 1Provisional data. Northern Ireland
Recorded expenditure by hospital services (including obstetric in-patient and out-patient services). Expenditure through community health services and general practitioner services is not available.
Year Average cost per birth £ 1991–92 1,375 1990–91 1,248 1989–90 N/a N/a—Not available. Wales
Recorded expenditure by hospital maternity services for 1989–90 and 1990–91, and by hospital and community health services for 1991–92. Expenditure through general practitioner services is not available.
Year Average cost per birth £ 11991–92 1,597 21990–91 1,233 21989–90 1,232 1Provisional data. 2Excludes expenditure on maternity services in the community health service. Note: Prior to 1991–92, recorded expenditure showed only actual patient treatment service costs, and not general service costs. Figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 therefore contain an estimated apportionment of general services costs. Scotland
Recorded expenditure by hospital obstetric services. Maternity medical services payments to general practitioners is also included. Expenditure through community health services is not available.
Year Average cost per birth £ 1991–92 1,514 1990–91 N/a 1989–90 N/a N/a—Not available.