HC Deb 30 October 1997 vol 299 cc861-2W
Dr. Vis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost of childbirth in the NHS in England and Wales including ante-natal and post-natal care for each of the last five years. [12956]

Mr. Boateng

The average cost of childbirth in the national health service in England, including ante-natal and post-natal care provided both in hospitals and the community, is shown in the attached table. Questions relating to Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97
Total expenditure on maternity services (hospital and community)— in £000s 1,011,857 1,007,065 1,006,546 1,012,530 11,048,651

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
Total numbers of births (livebirths and stillbirths) 654,561 640,094 632,539 616,663 617,529
Average cost per birth £1,546 £1,573 £1,591 £1,642 £1,698

Note:

1Provisional.

Sources:

Office of National Statistics, Key Population and Vital Statistics 1992, 1993, 1994, VS5 Tables 1995, 1996.

Annual financial returns of health authority directly managed units and NHS trusts.

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