§ Mr. AmessTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will hold an inquiry into the use of single use instruments for tonsillectomies. [126490]
§ Mr. HuttonIn March 2002, the Department of Health and the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists—Head and Neck Surgeons (BAO-HNS) carried out a comprehensive review of tonsil and adenoid surgery across the country. This followed advice from the Department that, in the interest of the safety of patients, surgeons should not use single use instruments for tonsil and adenoid surgery. The review found that many National Health Service trusts did not collect the data at the time of the operation and that therefore much of it was unreliable.
To get better information the Department is providing £250,000 to fund the Royal College of Surgeons and the BAO-HNS to carry out a national audit of tonsil and adenoid surgery. As this audit is ongoing, I do not believe that an inquiry is required, but I will keep this under consideration.