HC Deb 24 June 1997 vol 296 cc504-5W
Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the use of homeopathy for the treatment of patients, before and after undergoing a surgical hernia operation; and if he will make a statement;[4781]

(2) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on complementary and alternative medicine for the treatment of (i) a hernia and (ii) patients before and after undergoing a surgical hernia operation; and if he will make a statement; [4780]

(3) what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on alternatives to surgery for the treatment of hernias; and if he will make a statement. [4725]

Ms Jowell

We have not commissioned research, nor are we aware of any published studies, relating to alternative and complementary treatments in groin hernia surgery. The Department of Health does, however, support the Surgical Epidemiology and Audit Unit at the Royal College of Surgeons which is engaged in a systematic review of previous research literature on groin hernia surgery. Additionally, the Department of Health is supporting work by the Research Council for Complementary Medicine to develop clinical audit methodologies for use by practitioners of complementary medicine. This includes homeopathy, but is not related to the management of groin hernia.

Year 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Finished Consultant episodes with primary diagnosis of hernia abdominal cavity 128,732 128,798 135,031 135,289 145,430 154,503
Finished Consultant episodes with primary diagnosis of hernia of abdominal cavity, where a hernia repair operation was performed 91,120 90,975 95,978 92,950 96,712 101,704

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).

ICD 9 Diagnosis codes 550 to 553 and OPCS4R Operating codes T19 to T26.