HC Deb 28 February 1997 vol 291 cc444-5W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for the treatment of glaucoma were issued in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what was the net ingredient cost for each year. [16601]

Mr. Malone

The table provides information on the number of prescriptions dispensed, and their net ingredient cost. The rate of growth is in line with the rates for other medicines for conditions associated in particular with elderly people.

Number of prescription items dispensed and net ingredient cost of drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma: England 1991 to 1995
England
Year Prescription items (millions) Net ingredient cost (£ millions)
1991 2.9 21.7
1992 3.1 23.2
1993 3.3 24.5
1994 3.4 25.4
1995 3.5 26.3
1. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered.
2. The drugs used in the treatment of glaucoma are those preparations in the British National Formulary (BNF) [issue 28, September 19941 therapeutic group 11.6—treatment of glaucoma. Some of these drugs may have been prescribed for other conditions.

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) by region and (b) nationally received hospital in-patient or day care treatment for glaucoma in each of the last five years. [16602]

Finished consultant episodes—Glaucoma, England
1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Northern RHA 1,241 1,295 1,502 1,879 1,518
Yorkshire RHA 1,193 1,527 1,662 2,123 1,854
Trent RHA 1,822 1,869 1,895 2,214 2,049
East Anglian RHA 953 911 839 1,031 1,148
North-west Thames RHA 746 1,099 1,116 1,152 934
North-east Thames RHA 673 703 646 904 2,928
South-east Thames RHA 1,113 1,397 1,987 1,871 1,584
South-west Thames RHA 847 1,072 1,186 1,271 1,126
Wessex RHA 1,192 1,296 1,345 1,581 1,416
Oxford RHA 809 860 1,003 1,304 1,572
South Western RHA 1,437 1,553 1,668 1,983 1,998
West Midlands RHA 1,897 2,144 2,511 2,372 2,538
Mersey RHA 828 1,074 1,071 1,446 1,462
North Western RHA 1,928 2,275 2,894 3,131 2,999
SHAS 794 894 1,416 1,616
England total 17,474 19,967 22,941 25,880 25,125

Notes:

Figures include ordinary admissions and day cases in NHS hospitals, are rounded and may not total.

Data in this table is grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

Finished consultant episodes are defined as the period that a patient spends under the continuous care of a specific consultant in a specific health care provider (which may be in more than one hospital within that health care provider).

Special Health Authorities (SHAs) were abolished on 1 April 1994.

Source:

Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).