§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what treatment is available to people with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C through the NHS; what is the success rate; and what are the side effects; [50384]
(2) if he will make a statement on the (a) treatment available, (b) success rate of treatment and (c) side effects of treatment for people with haemophilia with hepatitis C infection. [50437]
§ Ms JowellPeople infected with the hepatitis C virus may remain symptom free for many years but a proportion will eventually develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis or even liver cancer. At present the only drug licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of any patient with hepatitis C is alpha interferon. Some haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C may benefit from treatment and should be offered it when appropriate. However, current experience shows that alpha interferon will only produce a sustained response, that is clear the virus on testing, in 20–25 per cent. of patients. Current research is examining how best to use alpha interferon and testing other antiviral drugs that either alone or in combination with alpha interferon, could give better results.
Alpha interferon is not well tolerated by some people. Most will have a mild reaction including influenza-like symptoms; in others the side effects will be more severe ranging from nausea, influenza-like symptoms and lethargy to depression, cardiovascular problems and hypersensitive reactions. Some will be unable to continue with the treatment. A history of certain types of health problems, for example depression, may be a contra-indication for treatment with the drug.
Home help/care contact hours, households receiving service average contact hours per household and "intensive" packages of service during the survey week in September/October each year 1992 to 1997, England Year Total home help/care contact hours Number of households hours receiving service Average contact hours per household receiving service Per cent. of total contact hours spent on "intensive"1 packages 1992 1,687,000 528,500 3.2 11 1993 1,780,800 514,600 3.5 12 1994 2,215,100 538,900 4.1 15 1995 2,395,700 513,600 4.7 21 1996 2,486,700 491,100 5.1 25 1997 2,637,800 471,000 5.6 28 1"Intensive" = more than 5 visits during the week totalling more than 5 hours Source:
Department of Health return HH1