§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the mortality rate for patients suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome admitted to National Health Service hospitals for treatment in(a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; [122625]
(2) what proportion of patients suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and being treated in National Health Service hospitals were admitted to intensive care units in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999 and (d) 2000; [122629]
(3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of data collection in relation to the number of patients suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome who have been treated in National Health Service hospitals. [122630]
§ Mr. DenhamThe table shows a mortality rate for patients with a primary diagnosis of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in National Health Service hospitals in England for the financial years 1996–97 to 1998–99. Data for 1999–2000 are not yet available. Information on admissions to intensive care units is not available.
In terms of data adequacy the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts in England. Every effort is made to minimise inaccuracies.
Mortality rate derived from number of people diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome; NHS hospitals England 1996–97 to 1998–99 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Primary diagnoses 1,489 1,650 1,875 Deaths 29 36 35 Proportion of deaths/diagnoses (per cent.) 1.9 2.2 1.9 Note:
The figures for 1998–99 and 1997–98 are provisional, no adjustment have as yet been made for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed) but for 1996–97 figures are grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to encourage clinical governance subcommittees of National Health Service trusts to raise awareness of Guillain-Barre Syndrome; [122626]
(2) what plans he has to encourage clinical governance groups within primary care groups to raise awareness of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, particularly among general practitioners. [122627]
§ Mr. DenhamClinical governance sub-committees have been put in place to co-ordinate National Health Service organisations' clinical governance activity. They are accountable for ensuring that clinical services across 331W the whole organisation are effectively managed and that the quality of all clinical services improves. There are no plans at this stage to encourage committees to focus on any particular condition.