HC Deb 14 July 1997 vol 298 cc80-1W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate delays in the referral of children with obstetrical brachial palsy for primary nerve surgery. [7636]

Mr. Boateng

Most children with obstetrical brachial palsy make a spontaneous recovery, but in severe and persistent cases—once identified early referral to consider surgical remedy is desirable. The decision to refer, and when to do so, is a matter for clinical judgment.

Emergency admissions to hospital by Region of treatment, NHS hospitals, England, October 1994 to February 1995
Region October 1994 November 1994 December 1994 January 1995 February 1995
Northern 21,097 20,852 21,634 21,698 20,244
Yorkshire 25,075 25,050 26,151 26,088 23,556
Trent 26,908 26,077 25,722 23,908 20,796
East Anglian 15,104 14,694 15,863 15,490 13,582
North-west Thames 16,105 16,021 16,399 15,881 14,582
North-east Thames 24,670 24,940 25,991 26,040 23,297
South-east Thames 21,523 21,624 22,179 21,938 19,823
South-west Thames 15,770 15,644 16,624 16,035 14,726
Wessex 16,372 16,392 17,748 17,340 16,404
Oxford 13,166 13,087 13,849 14,248 12,939
South Western 19,055 18,883 20,223 20,166 18,105
West Midlands 31,858 31,935 33,915 33,945 30,484
Mersey 18,201 17,985 18,927 18,958 16,503
North Western 30,382 30,203 30,766 30,181 27,323
England 295,285 293,387 305,990 301,917 272,364

Notes:

These data are grossed for coverage. Figures are rounded and may not total.

Source:

Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics HES.

Number of non-elective finished consultant episodes by region, thousands
Region 3rd Quarter 1995–96 (October-December) 4th Quarter 1995–96 (January-March) 3rd Quarter 1995–97 (October-December) 4th Quarter 1996–97 (January-March) estimate
Northern and Yorkshire 143 144 157 164
Trent 131 138 130 133
Anglia and Oxford 100 98 106 108
North Thames 136 132 137 140
South Thames 127 134 133 137
South and West 139 134 139 144
West Midlands 111 97 114 131
North-West 166 169 178 178
England 1,053 1,047 1,094 1,134

1. All figures are derived from the NHS Executive's Quarterly Monitoring system. Figures for 1995–96 have been adjusted to estimate the effects of definitional and boundary changes to allow direct comparison with 1996–97 information.

2. The figures relate to activity commissioned using NHS funds by health commissions in 1995–96 and health authorities in 1996–97. This includes activity in private hospitals and NHS hospitals outside England, but excludes private patients and patients from outside England treated in English hospitals.

3. The figures are on a different basis to the long standing series published annually in "Ordinary and day case admissions for England". This annual series is based on activity reported by NHS hospital and community Trusts and includes private patients and patients from outside England.

4. Non-elective finished consultant episodes comprise largely of all episodes during a patient spell in hospital which began either with an emergency admission or with a transfer from another hospital.

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