HL Deb 19 May 1993 vol 545 cc91-2WA
Baroness Jay of Paddington

asked 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 Cumberlege

The 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.

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.