§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action his Department is taking to accelerate the spread of information on functional electrical stimulation techniques for the rehabilitation of stroke sufferers; [132586]
(2) what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of functional electrical stimulation techniques for the rehabilitation of stroke sufferers; [132587]
(3) how many NHS trusts provide functional electrical stimulation as a treatment for stroke sufferers. [132588]
§ Dr. LadymanFunctional electrical stimulation (FES) is available only in specialist centres where there is an interest in the procedure. It requires physiotherapists who have specialist training in the technique supported by specialist medical physicists. The forthcoming National Clinical Guidelines for Stroke from the Royal College of Physicians states that FES should not be used on a routine basis and that it should only be considered for a very select group of stroke patients as determined by local protocols. We do not know how many national health service trusts provide FES as a treatment for stroke.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stroke physicians there were in(a) 1998 to 1999 and (b) 2002 to 2003. [130115]
473W
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department does not collect data on stroke physicians; a number of specialties are linked with the treatment of patients with strokes. The main specialties are geriatric medicine, neurology and rehabilitation medicine but it is not possible to say how many of the physicians within these specialties specialise in the treatment of strokes.
474WThe table shows the number of hospital medical staff in geriatric medicine, neurology and rehabilitation medicine from 1998 to 2003.
Between September 1997 and June 2003, total consultant numbers in geriatric medicine, neurology and rehabilitation medicine increased by 380 (37 per cent.).