§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the average waiting time was for children requiring tests to determine whether they suffer from nut allergies in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement; [130999]
(2) how many of those children tested for allergies, expressed in each case as a figure and a percentage of total tested, were referred by (a) GPs, (b) hospitals and (c) parents; and if he will make a statement; [130997]
(3) how many children are waiting to be tested to determine whether they suffer from nut allergies; and if he will make a statement. [131000]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 17 July 2000]: Patients who are suspected of having a nut allergy are normally referred to a clinical immunology and allergy clinic. The outpatient waiting times data do not differentiate between reasons for referral nor between adults and children. During the year 1999–2000 there were 4,304 referrals from general practitioners and 965 from other sources. At the time of their first outpatient attendance 1,923 patients had waited less than 13 weeks; 1,069 patients waited between 13 and 25 weeks; and 508 patients waited more than 26 weeks.
233W
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many children were diagnosed with(a) asthma, (b) nut allergies and (c) other allergies in (i) the UK, (ii) Teesside Region and (iii) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East in each year from 1990 to 2000; and if he will make a statement; [131008]
(2) how many children were tested for allergies in (a) the UK, (b) Teesside Region and (c) the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East in each year between 1990 to 2000; and if he will make a statement. [130998]
§ Yvette Cooper[holding answer 17 July 2000]: Data are not collected centrally to show the number of people who are tested and diagnosed with an allergy. Patients with suspected allergies are often referred to clinical immunology and allergy outpatient clinics where they are tested for allergy. The figures indicate the number of patients attending a clinic in England for the first time.
Year Number 1992–93 44 1993–94 1,486 1994–95 2,293 1995–96 1,379 1996–97 2,382 1997–98 3,355 1998–99 3,655 Source
DH form KHO9
These figures do not show all allergy testing as some takes place in other specialities or in primary care. Age groups are not specified. Clinical Immunology and Allergy was only recognised as a medical speciality in June last year. Consequently, detailed statistical information for allergy is only now being collated and is not yet available.Key health statistics for general practice database published in 1996, demonstrated the incidence of diagnosed asthma in children aged 0–15 years per 10,000 population.
Year Number 1994 1,010 1995 1,023 1996 1,012