HC Deb 20 May 2004 vol 421 c1181W
Keith Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how frequently and for what type of surgeries disposable instruments are used in NHS hospitals; [173177]

(2) what research he has commissioned on the possible risk of haemorrhages when using disposable instruments during operations; [173178]

(3) what action he would take in response to research which showed a correlation between using disposable instruments and increased risk of haemorrhages. [173179]

Ms Rosie Winterton

Single-use instruments are used in a range of surgical procedures. The Department does not collect data on the frequency and the type of procedures where single-use instruments are used.

The Department has not commissioned any research on the possible risk of haemorrhaging when single-use instruments are used. The national prospective tonsillectomy audit is looking at different techniques used in tonsillectomies, including the use of single-use instruments.

The Chief Medical Officer has asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) to issue guidance on the safety of single-use instruments in tonsillectomies following the initial findings of the national prospective tonsillectomy audit. NICE issued interim guidance on the use of diathermy on 24 March and definitive guidance will be issued after it has conducted a full review.

Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS) Doctors1 and General Medical Practitioners (excluding retainers)2

for Trent Strategic Health Authority and selected organisations—as at 30 September
Number (headcount)
1997
All doctors1 of which:

HCHS doctors1

 General Medical

Practitioners2
of which selected organizations
Ashfield PCG 4ME54 n/a n/a n/a
Bassetlaw PCG 4ED35 n/a n/a n/a
Broxtowe and Hucknall PCG 4GM13 n/a n/a n/a
Gedling PCG 4QV83 n/a n/a n/a
Mansfield District PCG 4NT23 n/a n/a n/a
Newark and Sherwood PCG 4GA33 n/a n/a n/a
Nottingham City Central PCG 4CC42 n/a n/a n/a
Nottingham City North and West PCG 4EA27 n/a n/a n/a
Nottingham City South and East PCG 4VW19 n/a n/a n/a
Rushcliffe PCG 4XH33 n/a n/a n/a
Mansfield District PCT 5AM n/a n/a n/a
Newark and Sherwood PCT 5AP n/a n/a n/a
Gedling PCT 5EC n/a n/a n/a
Nottingham City PCT 5EM n/a n/a n/a
Bassetlaw PCT 5ET n/a n/a n/a
Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT 5EV n/a n/a n/a
Ashfield PCT 5FA n/a n/a n/a