Cold-related Illnesses

HC Deb 03 March 1997 vol 291 cc508-9W

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what have been the excess winter treatment rates for cold-related illnesses in hospitals in Northern Ireland for(a) in-patients and (b) out-patients for each of the last 10 years; [17214]

(2) how many people in Northern Ireland received treatment by NHS doctors for cold-related illnesses for the period December 1996 and January 1997; and what was the average figure for similar periods in the past 10 years. [17221]

Mr. Moss

The information requested is not available.

Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland received hospital treatment as(a) in-patients and (b) out-patients for cold-related illnesses for the period December 1996 and January 1997; and what was the average figure for similar periods in the past 10 years. [17218]

Mr. Moss

The information available for in-patients is shown in the table and covers the period 1989–90 to 1995–96. For the purposes of the question, "cold-related illnesses" have been defined as pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis and hypothermia.

Finished consultant episodes—ordinary admissions and day cases
	Pneumonia	Influenza	Bronchitis	Hypothermia	Total
January 1994	330	7	56	11	404
December 1994	252	9	76	11	348
January 1995	291	7	70	5	373
December 1995	345	68	83	18	514
January 1996	371	38	70	6	485

¹Source:

Hospital Inpatients Systems"