§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new cases of asthma have been108W surgery in (a) total and (b) each chapter of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys operation short list in 1990–91 and each year since then. [31935]
§ Mr. HoramThe information available centrally relates to finished consultant episodes. The table shows the number of episodes where a private patient had an operation in their first episode of care within a spell in hospital, for each chapter heading of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys operation short list.
recorded so far in 1996; what were the annual figures for newly reported asthma cases for the previous five years; and if he will make a statement. [31853]
§ Mr. HoramThe information is not available in the form requested. However, according to data collected by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the mean weekly incidence of new episodes of asthma per 100,000 population was as follows:
- 1991: 46.3
- 1992: 48.3
- 1993: 50.3
- 1994: 49.2
- 1995: 40.3
- 1996: 38.5 (first 21 weeks)
The encouraging recent reduction in general practitioner episodes is mirrored by a fall in the number of hospital admissions and day cases.