§ Mr. John SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will hold a public inquiry into the incidence, extent and causes of deep vein thrombosis amongst air travellers following the publication of research by the New Zealand Medical Research Institute; [146934]
(2) what steps he is taking to protect British air travellers following the research by the New Zealand Medical Research Institute published in The Lancet on 19 December 2003; [146935]
(3) what assessment he has made of the report of the New Zealand Medical Research Institute into the incidence of deep vein thrombosis amongst air travellers. [146936]
§ Mr. McNultyThe House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology reported in November 2000 on the health aspects of air travel, including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). The report identified the need for further research into air travel and DVT.
The Department for Transport has subsequently provided £0.8 million, and the Department of Health £0.4 million, to a World Health Organisation (WHO) research project into the incidence of DVT and the possible physiological mechanisms involved. The 549W European Commission is contributing a further £0.65 million. The results of the research are expected in early 2005.
The Government and the Civil Aviation Authority's Aviation Health Unit are aware of the research recently published by the New Zealand Medical Research Institute. Once the WHO work is completed, the Aviation Health Unit will advise the Government on what, if any, further action needs to be taken.
Advice on health and travel, given the present state of knowledge, is widely available to the public in the Department of Health's 'Health advice for Travellers' booklet and is under constant review. Advice has also been made available to the public through NHS Direct, the Internet, airlines and health services.