§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the annual cost to the National Health Service of treating sunburn and sunstroke in each of the last three years. [53142]
§ Ms JowellThere has been no study specifically into the costs to the National Health Service of sunburn and sun stroke. However, sunburn is a risk factor for certain types of skin cancer, notably the most dangerous form, malignant melanoma. It has been estimated that in 1992/93 in England, malignant melanoma accounted for 0.06 per cent. of total hospital in and out patient expenditure of about £16,200 million1. There are about 3–4,000 new cases of malignant melanoma and approximately 1,300 deaths from this cancer in England each year.
1 Source: "Burdens of Disease", NHSE, 1996.
§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received treatment in National Health Service hospitals for sunburn and sunstroke in each of the last three years. [53141]
§ Mr. MilburnThe information shown in the table is for in-patient treatment in National Health Service hospitals for the financial years 1994–95 to 1996–97 (the latest year for which figures are available), and is based on Finished Consultant Episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants.
Primary diagnosis Year Sunburn Heatstroke and sunstroke 1994–95 385 38 1995–96 156 82 1996–97 88 42 Notes:
ICD Coding
1. 1994–95—ICD-9 codes—Contact dermatitis due to solar radiation (sunburn)—692.0; heatstroke and sunstroke—992.0
2. 1995–96 and 1996–97—ICD10 codes sunburn L55; heatstroke and sunstroke T67.0. Because of the change in classification, data for 1995–96 and 1996–97 may not be directly comparable with 1994–95
3. 1994–95 and 1995–96 data are grossed for both coverage and unknown invalid clinical data
4. 1996–97 is derived from ungrossed HES data, and may not be directly comparable with earlier years
Source:
Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
Estimated number of Finished Consultant Episodes (FCEs) by primary diagnosis: ordinary admissions and day cases combined, NHS hospitals, England.