To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of delivering an episode of care in (a) 1979, (b) 1997 and (c) the most recent period for which figures are available, at constant prices. (76948)

The average cost of delivering an episode of care allowing for health pay and price inflation is shown in the table:

A patient admitted to hospital is assigned to a practitioner responsible for their treatment. This period of care is termed an episode.

There are no data available for 1979.

Information is not available on a comparable basis after 2003-04.