§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals there are in the areas of the Metropolitan hospital boards with casualty departments; how many have been closed at some time in the last year through shortage of staff; and what 208W action he is taking to prevent further deterioration in the standards of public service.
§ Mr. AlisonThere are 104 hospitals in the areas of the Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards which have major and emergency departments; about another 100 have minor casualty departments. Information about the number of departments closed is not readily available in the form requested. I have authorised the permanent closure of four departments but I am aware that a number of temporary closures have also occurred mainly because of shortage of staff. In so far as there are special problems in the Greater London Area, I understand that these are being reviewed jointly by the health service authorities concerned.
Nationally, my Department is arranging with hospital authorities for the creation of a number of new consultant posts which will directly improve the services and will provide a basis for study, by the Department and the profession, of the best patterns of staffing for this service.