Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2003. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) accident and emergency attendances and (b) GP attendances there were relating to pain in each region in each year since 1997; if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of treating pain in England in the last 12 months; if he will estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in England in each year since 1997; what proportion of the population under 18 suffered from (a) chronic pain, (b) recurrent pain and (c) pain which has lasted more than a month in each year since 1997; how many (a) finished consultant episodes and (b) hospital admissions there were relating to pain in each region in each year since 1997. - No figures given.

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many (a) accident and emergency attendances and (b) GP attendances there were relating to pain in each region in each year since 1997; [126350] (2) if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of treating pain in England in the last 12 months; [126351] (3) if he will estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in England in each year since 1997; [126353] (4) what proportion of the population under 18 suffered from (a) chronic pain, (b) recurrent pain and (c) pain which has lasted more than a month in each year since 1997; [126354] (5) how many (a) finished consultant episodes and (b) hospital admissions there were relating to pain in each region in each year since 1997. [126438] Mr. Hutton: Pain management is an important component of most patients' care, and is provided as part of overall treatment. The Department's Hospital Episode Statistics records information on diagnosis and procedures carried out in the national health service. It does not record information on the prevalence of pain in England, the cost to the NHS of treating pain, or the number of finished consultant episodes and hospital admissions relating to pain.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 409 c950-1W; 126350;126351;126353;126354;126438
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Admissions Costs Hospitals General practitioners NHS Medical treatments Patients Pain Young people Accident and emergency departments
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk