HC Deb 26 January 1994 vol 236 c302W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what records are maintained annually as to the effect of cold weather spells on hospital admissions according to GP recommendations.

Mr. Bowis

Anonymised data from hospital patient administration systems are submitted to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in respect of each patient admitted to hospital for treatment. Extracts of the dataset are then analysed by the Department of Health. The patient record will show the condition for which admission was made and will include the date of that admission. There is no central record. of the admission practice of individual general practitioners.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research has been undertaken by her Department into the effects of cold weather, hypothermia and chill-related illnesses on the overall health budget.

Mr. Bowis

None. The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the most recent estimated cost to her Department of cold-related illnesses.

Mr. Bowis

Information is not available on which to base such an estimate, since no precise definition of "cold-related illness" can be made.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure has been incurred by her Department to ensure public awareness of the dangers of cold weather to health and the measures required to combat them; and if she will give a breakdown by regional health authority and regional health boards.

Mr. Bowis

We spent approximately £445,000 on our "Keep Warm Keep Well" public information campaign for the winter of 1992–93. Contributions to the total cost, which approached £500,000, were also made by the Department of Social Security and the Welsh Office. A similar campaign for Scotland, "Keep Warm this Winter" is funded by the Scottish Office at a cost in 1992–93 of £103,000. These campaigns do not involve regional health authorities or regional health boards.