§ 37. Mr. Liptonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the accident and emergency department of King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, was closed to 999 ambulances over the weekend of 14th-15th January last and all Sunday admissions cancelled.
§ Mr. MoyleFrom 5 p.m. Friday 6th to 9 a.m. Monday 9th January, the accident and emergency department of King's College Hospital was closed and all cold admissions and non-emergency surgery were stopped due to increased sickness amongst nursing staff. Usually this situation would be alleviated, if other NHS nurses were not available, by the use of suitable agency nurses. They were not obtainable on this occasion.