HC Deb 03 July 1973 vol 859 cc59-60W
32. Mr. Loveridge

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many casualty departments, open and providing 24 hours service daily, were available in the Greater London area, to the nearest available areas in which figures are available in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1971 and 1972, and what increase or decrease is proposed for 1973;

(2) how many citizens living in areas outside the metropolitan conurbations are estimated to live within 10 miles of a casualty department open 24 hours a day; and how many are estimated to live farther away; if he will further estimate comparative figures for 1950, 1960, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what changes are expected in 1973;

(3) how many casualty departments, open and providing 24-hours service daily, were available to the public in the major conurbations and cities outside the Greater London area, or such nearer areas for which figures were available, in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what increase or decrease is proposed for 1973;

(4) how many casualty departments were open to the public in England and Wales in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what changes are anticipated in 1973.

Mr. Alison

Not all the information requested is readily obtainable and I would not feel justified in asking hospital boards to undertake a special statistical survey. Over the last decade the policy has been to concentrate services on a smaller number of fully equipped and staffed accident and emergency departments and it is known that while there were in England and Wales 789 casualty departments in 1960, the number of accident and emergency departments in 1970 was 680 with plans to reduce it by this year to about 620. I expect a further reduction of this number as more new or upgraded major departments are brought into use.

Mr. Loveridge

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the number of doctor hours of duty, and of qualified nursing hours of duty, worked on an average 24 hour period, in casualty departments in England and Wales in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what changes are expected for 1973.

Mr. Alison

I regret that this information is not available.