§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many cases of respiratory syncitial virus requiring hospital admission there have been in the last three years in the Portsmouth Health Authority, broken down by age; and if he will make a statement; [53694]
(2) what estimate he has made of the cost of treating infants suffering from respiratory syncitial virus infection in terms of (a) hospital stays and (b) intensive care unit stays in the Portsmouth Primary Care Trust; and if he will make a statement. [53695]
§ Yvette CooperFigures for respiratory diseases with a subsidiary classification of respiratory syncitial virus for patients resident in the Portsmouth health authority area were very small and cannot be released for reasons of patient confidentiality. The table below contains a count of all admissions to National Health Service hospitals in England for patients resident in the south-east region.
402W
Age 0–4 Over 4 Total Year 1998–99 105 0 105 1999–00 32 0 32 2000‒01 32 2 34 Notes:
- 1. These figures do not represent the number of patients as a person may be admitted more than once during the year
- 2. Data in this table are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data, except for 2000–01 which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
Source:
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health
Costs associated with admission vary significantly with severe cases requiring paediatric intensive care, assisted ventilation and specialised interventions. Information on the cost of these admissions is not collected centrally.
§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the need for guidance to be issued to parents about the risk to premature babies of respiratory syncitial virus; and if he will make a statement. [53693]
§ Yvette CooperParents of premature babies that are at risk from respiratory syncitial virus infection receive guidance from their doctor before leaving hospital. General written guidance is also provided to parents before they take their baby home, on the recognition of illness, the awareness of the risks of infection in babies and contact points in the event their child appears to be unwell.
The national service framework for children is a forthcoming comprehensive opportunity to review what guidance and information is given to parents, and parents to be, about the health of their children.