HC Deb 19 October 1998 vol 317 cc979-80W
Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund the greater use of chronic pain management programmes for sufferers of adhesive arachnoiditis. [55042]

Mr. Boateng

Multi-disciplinary pain management programmes have been shown to be effective. The funding of such services, including those for arachnoiditis sufferers, is the responsibility of health authorities in consultation with trusts and health professionals.

Mrs. Ewing

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the alleged link between adhesive arachnoiditis and the use of Myodil. [55040]

Mr. Boateng

Arachnoiditis can arise from a number of causes. There are no plans to investigate links between Myodil and arachnoiditis: the association between the use of Myodil and the occurrence of arachnoiditis is recognised. The product information for Myodil contained a warning about the possibility of post-myelography arachnoiditis for many years.