§ 27. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the neurological services available for road accident victims in Southern Hampshire suffering from severe head injuries.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyThe neurological and neurosurgery centre providing specialist treatment for this area is at 641 Southampton General Hospital. Neurological and neurosurgical services are available to all major accident and emergency departments.
§ Mr. JuddWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that there are no services whatsoever in the City of Portsmouth and that there is widespread concern in Southern Hampshire at the long distances in overcrowded traffic conditions that critical cases may have to travel before appropriate treatment becomes available?
§ Dr. DunwoodyThere is a major accident and emergency department at the Royal Portsmouth Hospital. As my hon. Friend will realise, it just is not practicable, nor in the interests of medical efficiency, to provide neurosurgical units more frequently than at somewhat greater distances than major accident centres. In our view, the arrangements for this area provide an adequate service to the general public.