HC Deb 05 May 1998 vol 311 cc354-6W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have multiple sclerosis in(a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands. [40227]

Mr. Boateng

Multiple sclerosis is not a notifiable disease and therefore no register is kept of the number of patients in Coventry Health Authority or the West Midlands.

Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of treatment for those with multiple sclerosis in(a) the West Midlands and (b) England. [40228]

Mr. Boateng

The National Health Service provides a wide range of services to which people with multiple sclerosis have access, and such patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialties. Patients can discuss the options available to them with their general practitioner, and they may also request an assessment of their needs by local authority social services departments. It is currently up to health authorities and GP fundholders to assess the needs of their local population and commission services appropriately.

The "New NHS" White Paper sets out a clear vision of the kind of NHS to which we are committed—a truly national service which has quality at its heart. We want to improve quality through a range of initiatives which will drive up standards of care in those areas where they are lacking.