§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many spinal injury units there are within the National Health Service at present; where each such unit is located; how many beds there
Number of Beds Unit 1976 1971 1966 National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital 193* 210 193 Midlands Spinal Injuries Unit, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry 46 61 61 Lodge Moor Spinal Injuries Unit, Sheffield 64 58 58 South port Paraplegic Unit, Southport 34 34 34 Pinderfields General Hospital Spinal Injuries Unit, Wakefield 40 31 31 Hexham Spinal Injuries Unit, Hexham 20 16 16 * Includes 40 beds in the Younger Disabled Unit. Discussions are now taking place about the possible establishment of a spinal injuries unit at Salisbury. I intend to make a full statement about this in the near future.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision he is making within the National Health Service for the post-graduate training of doctors in the treatment of spinal injuries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe treatment of spinal injuries requires a specialised team of doctors skilled in a number of fields of medicine including neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, neurology and urology. Post-graduate training is provided within the National Health Service in all these specialities and there has been no difficulty in finding doctors who have completed their training to fill existing posts.