Written question asked by Lord Hammond of Runnymede (Conservative) on Thursday, 25 May 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 July 2000. It was answered by John Denham (Labour) on Monday, 3 July 2000 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that a full cost-benefit analysis, including financial savings accruing to all Government departments is available to support Department of Health decisions about guidance on investment in pain management; what estimate he has made of the budgetary benefits accruing to other Departments from NHS investment in pain management programmes.

Answer: Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that a full cost-benefit analysis, including financial savings accruing to all Government Departments is available to support Department of Health decisions about guidance on investment in pain management; [124327] (2) what estimate he has made of the budgetary benefits accruing to other Departments from NHS investment in pain management programmes. [124360] Mr. Denham: The Department recognises the importance of improving pain services as highlighted by the recent Clinical Standards Advisory Group report. We have supported a number of studies on pain, particularly low back pain--a major cause of morbidity and absence from work. While we have not commissioned a specific analysis of the benefits accruing to other Government Departments from National Health Service investment in pain management, we would, where appropriate, make all studies commissioned by the Department available to other Government Departments to support their policies.

Secondary information